Evelyne Ogutu
1 May 2008
Nairobi — MPs from pastoralist communities have asked the Government to give more money to the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands.
Led by their chairman, Turkana Central MP, Mr Ekwe Ethuro, the MPs proposed a Sh30 billion annual budget for the new ministry if it were to effectively tackle the challenges of the region.
The minister, Mr Elmi Ibrahim, said the ministry needed Sh300 billion over ten years to improve the economic status of the region, which has long been neglected.
Ethuro said the Sh2 billion allocated was too little to effectively fund development projects and revamp a region neglected since independence. Ethuro was speaking at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre during the ministry's launch. Elmi presided over the launch.
Elmi said that the mere mention of 'northern Kenya' evoked hopelessness, but said the ministry would help change the perceptions.
He said the ministry was mandated to craft a development policy for northern Kenya and other arid areas, including infrastructure and the opening up of the region to investors.
Banditry and cattle rustling, said the minister, had affected development of the region and he pledged to join others to end this.
"This cultural practice has given this region a bad name and my ministry will do everything possible to get to the cause of the problem and eradicate it," said Elmi.
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