Bungoma county economy is SME solution

BUNGOMA COUNTY ECONOMY

The issue of Bungoma county economy seem not generating serious debate apart from the revival of Pan paper, restructuring of Nzoia sugar company, and the possibility of Kitinda.

The people who want to policy makers of the county when you closely go through what they have sounds as if the 1970 and 1980 economic blue prints.

Most of this blue prints advanced by the government failed, so our leaders to generalize about creating industries for our people is misleading.

These leaders have to understand something to do with the aspects of Global Value Chains(GVCs).

GVC is a chain of activities which can be divided among mulitple firms in different geographical locations to bring out a product or a service from conception to complete production and delivery to final consumers.

Participation in GVCs gives Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the opportunity to attain financial stability, increase productivity and expand markets.

Thus in simple understanding is that GVC allows SMEs to participate in the global economy.

The problem is that policy makers may not be supportive to SME s to enhance their role in the global economy.

WE have to make policy makers in the county to focus on facilitating the SME entry to GVC.

Research shows that in the globalized economy, competitive advantages can be created in any sector.

So they have to understand opportunities both mature and emerging sectors that offer SMEs the potential to integrate into GVCs.

We need to assess the concentration and interest the leaders exhibit in fostering skills development, dynamics and innovation of SMEs, to propel them meet International standards.

So are our leaders prepared in working on SMEs promotion and export promotion activities in order to adapt them to new realities?

Bungoma county economy

Christ  Jesus said you shall know  the truth and the truth shall set you free.
Universal Declaration of Human rights (UDHR), article 19 states;
everyone has a right to freedom of opinion and expression .
UDHR further in article 29 states that everyone has duties to the
community in which he belongs.
The above statements guides us as the people of Bungoma county to look
critically at the contestants of various positions to know if they
will be accountable and responsible for the electorates.
The crop of leaders running for the post of governor are some how not
the usual players In the politics of Bungoma.
Yet , on the other hand, those eying the position of senators and the
very wheel dealers and movers , being at the centre stage of our
county affairs.
For the past twenty years what we have gone through bad or good is in
one way or the other attributable to them.
They have one common problem; Bungoma is a large prison of votes only
for them and to them development has to take place In Nairobi.
For background information , Bungoma has been classified as a
millennium district  due to high poverty rates, and has one of the
highest concentration of NGOs.
It was put in the very category, not long time ago, when these pride
men where making connections and creating wealth to themselves.
The wealthier they became , the poorer people in Bungoma became .
On economic development, incidentally since 2001- the African Growth
and Opportunity Act (AGOA), came into force opening up American
markets to African products.
Coincidentally, two of our prominent sons have been in charge of the
trade ministry for 7 years between them out of the 12 years AGOA has
been in existence.
From 2001 exports to the USA was 3 billion  US dollars rose up to 19
billion US dollars, of these exports none came from Bungoma.
The challenge was and remains urging Kenyans to take advantage of the
expansive US markets, which is thorough diversifying the range of
products mostly value addition of agricultural products.
Kenyas major exports to the US coffee, tea, fish cut flower, pyrethrum
none comes from our county.
But who said that we have no alternatives? Bungoma is able to produce
chicken, turkeys, eggs, millet, milk and dairy products, maize for
fats and vegetables, tomatoes, fruits, meat, tobacco  and wood
products.

Of these , more than 200,000 jobs can be created within a year,
whereby each person earns not less than 10,000 US dollars annually.
When translated into our economy, it could mean US dollars 2 billion,
putting a full stop to the common whining about delayed payments of
cane proceeds.
The beauty of it all is that our bright sons in government are so good
to see that even in Bungoma , we can make it happen.
Sugarcane growing has enslaved our people and the leadership seem
determined, to have the suffering in place to enable the electorates
go to their homes for hand outs.
 Having had the opportunity to serve the community as UDHR 29 SAYS,
then these contestants have to be evaluated closely and soberly.