By Natasha Agunda | The Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) has challenged people to utilize the Ksh300 million annual remittance allocated by the government in Wajir County.
KDA, chaired by Shem Ochuodho challenged people to invest in Wajir which according to him, is exhibiting investment potential with a population of about 800,000 according to the latest 2019 census report.
Dr Alutalala Mukhwana, a legal expert, on the other hand, expressed that Governor Mohamed Abdi Mahmud should put incentives in place to allow investors to invest in his yard stressing that proper guidelines, restrictions and principles should be put in place to allow investors tour the region.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Wajir county Yusuf Edi outlined the investment opportunities in the county which included;
1. Leather; Approximately 20,000 to 25,000 camels are slaughtered per day in the slaughterhouse and a minimum of 100 to 150 sheep a day.
2. Limestone. Wajir seats on large deposits of limestone. This can be developed into cement and whitewash.
3. Camel gum, renewable Energy and Solar Energy.
5. Solid waste; solid waste can be generated and refined into useful products including energy, but Hussein mentioned that the technology is lacking and the county government will provide the necessary environment for investors to invest
6. Agriculture; The Northern county has a large plantation of crops such as mangoes and watermelon with very fertile lands, as well as livestock, Wajir being the largest exporter of camel meat they have been experiencing challenges as they have been exporting the camels through Somalia.
Currently, Wajir as a County runs on diesel, battery and lamp energy at 84 percent according to statistics by the Kenya Integrated House Hold Budget Survey (KIHBS).
According to Yusuf, Wajir has the capacity to supply the aforementioned resources if the right measures were put in place.
Wajir is one of the fastest-growing economies in the Arid and Semi-Arid lands. (ASALS) with pastoralism as the main source of livelihood accounting 70 percent of its economic activities.
