Laikipia’s holistic development and a promising chapter
Laikipia County in Kenya is taking a significant stride towards progress through exciting collaborations with Kenyatta University, KENDEX, and Two4one. Led by H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu EGH, a delegation, including Professor Maina Mwangi from Kenyatta University and Stanley Njenga, CEO of KENDEX, convened at the County Offices in Nanyuki.
The team started with a visit at Mutanga warehouse to assess and discuss with management team on their challenges which included how to operation the warehouse receipting system, having a backup generator, A laboratory with Aflatoxin Kit and a weighbridge while meeting all regulation set by the warehouse council for licensing
The meeting’s focal point was establishing partnerships across vital sectors, ranging from agriculture and infrastructure to health, housing, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, education, and research. The county team and the visiting delegation identified key collaborative areas, emphasizing the enhancement of coffee production, education, skills development, food security, value addition, healthcare, fruit farming (particularly avocado and macadamia), pig and dairy farming, feedlot development, industrial park creation, and water conservation.
County government of Laikipia departments on Health, trade, education, Trade and LCDA presented the status of various project and various means of synergies available. They included, capacity building, Training, Material development, resource center establishment, 10 Year health plan, research unit establishment. Stanley Njenga, CEO Kendex PLC made presentation on research done on warehouses, industrial parks and agriculture crops and livestock value chains.
An ambitious household economic empowerment project was also unveiled, targeting 50,000 households to ensure food and nutritional security. The initiative encompasses diverse activities like dairy goat farming, rainwater harvesting, kitchen gardening, beekeeping, poultry farming, and fruit tree cultivation.
Governor Irungu expressed Laikipia’s vision to become Kenya’s primary food basket in the next decade, focusing on the production of cash crops such as soya beans, coffee, maize, avocado, and macadamia. The governor emphasized the importance of seeking alternative funding sources to achieve these goals.
Kenyatta University pledged its commitment to partner with Laikipia County, offering knowledge, skills, and resources to uplift the region. KENDEX, aligned with Laikipia’s development agenda, aims to make a significant impact. Professor Maina highlighted the university’s goals of providing quality education, improving research, and positively transforming lives through this collaboration. This collaboration marks a promising chapter for Laikipia’s holistic development.
