By Ogova Ondego
Published January 27, 2024
I just returned from a tour of western Kenya where I sought to assess the place and role of a state corporation known as Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) whose mandate is to plan, coordinate and implement projects and programmes around Lake Victoria and its environs.
The mandate of LBDA is to:
1). plan and implement integrated development projects and programmes in the Lake Basin
2). develop and update long range development plan for the area
3). coordinate, monitor and evaluate development programmes and projects in the Lake Basin
4). promote sustainable exploitation of natural resources in the Lake Victoria Basin
5). consider all aspects of development in the region and their effect on the Lake.
While the Vision of LBDA is to be a leader in integrated socio-economic development’, its Mission is to ”foster integrated socio-economic programmes and projects through sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources with appropriate technologies for improved livelihood of communities within the Lake Victoria Basin’.
The ‘Lake Victoria Basin’ comprises the Nyanza counties of Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii and Nyamira; Western Province’s Vihiga, Kakamega, Busia and Bungoma and Rift Valley’s Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu.
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Apart from what LBDA itself says of itself, there is hardly any other independent source from which one could assess the impact and achievements of LBDA that was created some 45 years ago under Chapter 442 of the Laws of Kenya.
So what does LBDA say with regard to its role? What projects and programmes is LBDA running and with what impact on the communities in western Kenya, an area covering 3900 square km of land and 4000 square km of water?
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LBDA lists the following as the projects it is undertaking:
1). Lake Basin Mall in Kisumu City
2). Kibos Rice Mill Complex
3). Regional Demonstration Centres which support technology transfer in agriculture and livestock development and promotion of coffee and aquaculture development
4). Construction of the Nyakoe Market in collaboration with the County Government of Kisii
5). Lichota, Muhoroni and Alupe Solar Irrigation Project for the irrigation of 200 hectares covering Lichota, Muhoroni and Alupe.
6). a) Magwagwa Multipurpose Hydro-Power Project on Sondu River near Magwagwa town and covers five counties: Bomet, Kericho, Nyamira, Homa Bay and Kisumu.
b) Nandi Forest Dam Multipurpose Project in Nandi Forest that covers Nandi, Kakamega, Vihiga and Kisumu counties.
One can’t tell at what level these listed projects are or assess their impact on the communities in the Lake Basin.
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LBDA is considered to be among the six regional economic blocs adopted by the National Government as vectors of socio-economic development.’ But is LBDA synonymous with Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) that brings together Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, Vihiga, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia and Kericho counties? Why are Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia that are part of LBDA transferred to the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) that consists of Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu and Turkana?
The other REBs are Mount Kenya and Aberdares Region Economic Bloc that consists of Nyeri, Nyandarua, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Laikipia, Nakuru and Kiambu; South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc comprises Kitui, Machakos and Makueni; Jumuia ya Kaunti za Pwani consists of Tana River, Taita Taveta, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa; and Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) brings together Garissa, Wajir, Mandera,Isiolo, Marsabit, Tana River and Lamu.
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According to the State Department for Devolution in the Office of the Deputy President of Kenya, local government, known as Counties, have formed six blocs largely due to their historical, political and economic similarities:
These blocs, according to the National Government, ‘are intended to spur economic growth within the respective regions through policy harmonization and resource mobilization’.
Besides LBDA, other corporations created by the state to fast-track ‘development’ at grassroots’ ‘level include Coast Development Authority, Ewaso-Nyiro South Development Authority, Ewaso-Nyiro North Development Authority, Kerio Valley Development Authority and Tana River Development Authority. So what informs the Government in creating new regional economic blocs. Have ‘development authorities’ like LBDA outlived their usefulness? What is clear to all and sundry is utter confusion.
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