The Council of Governors (COG) has exuded confidence that the recently formed Regional Economic Blocks (REB) will start bearing fruits.
The council defended plans by the counties noting that lack of funding and legal framework had affected the smooth running of blocks.
This came as the COG and the national government agreed to form a joint committee to develop a policy and legal framework for the blocks to be operational.
According to Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, the committee would also help in the establishment, composition and governance of the economic blocks.
Kibwana said that the national and county governments would review and restructure the existing Regional Development Authorities (RDA) to avoid duplication of duties.
“The national and county governments shall also harmonize regulatory frameworks to improve the ease of doing business in the country,” he said.
Kibwana who is the chair of legal affairs and human rights committee in COG was addressing the press at Sawela Lodge in Naivasha at the end of a three day workshop on harnessing opportunities within the REBs.
He added that in a bid to avoid further duplication, the economic blocks would align their blueprints with the county integrated development plans (CIDPs).
Kibwana said that plans were underway for the REBs to tap into regional and international markets for resource mobilization and access to larger markets.
“The Regional Economic Blocks will position themselves in such a way that development partners can easily approach them as a block for partnership in various sectors,” he said.
On his part, Uasin Gishu deputy governor Daniel Chemno noted that the North Rift economic block had already identified untapped tourism potential around Lake Turkana.
He said that if supported, the blocks had high potential of improving the livelihood of area residents and offering new job opportunities.
“We have untapped tourism activities around Lake Turkana and plans are underway to come up with a cable car in parts of block as part of attracting more tourists,” he said.
The Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Devolution Hussein Dado said that the government was fully behind the blocks and would look at laws that hinder economic growth.
“The regional economic blocks will help solve conflicts between counties and the national government is fully behind this noble idea that will also help in supporting inter-counties projects,” he said.