Makueni County secures Sh264 Million from Morocco for development projects
BY PATRICK NYAKUNDI, KNA
The Makueni County Government has secured a partnership deal worth Sh264 million with the Marrakech-Safi region of Morocco to support various development projects in the county.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. signed the agreement on behalf of the county with Mr. Samir Goudar, the President of the Marrakech-Safi Region, during a recent visit to Marrakech City, Morocco.
This partnership is championed under the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aimed at strengthening SouthSouth cooperation that aligns with the African Union Agenda 2063 to promote mutual d e v e l o p m e n t and integration across Africa.
The collaboration is funded through the African Fund for International Decentralized Cooperation of Local Authorities (FACDI), which supports decentralized governments across Africa.
The signing ceremony was also attended by Farid Chourak, the representative of King Mohammed VI and the Governor of the Marrakech Region, along with seven other regional governors.
According to the five-year MoU, President Goudar outlined immediate commitments to kick-start cooperation in sector-specific engagements which include agriculture, water, renewable energy, education, health and climate change.
Also, there will be five fully funded scholarships to undertake undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Universite Privee De Marrakech that will be awarded to deserving students through the office of the governor.
The partnership also provides advanced medical training for healthcare professionals in Makueni, establishes exchange programs to enhance cross-cultural knowledge sharing, and promotes youth empowerment through technical training.
The focus will also be on urban planning for sustainable development, joint tourism initiatives, leadership training for Makueni’s County Assembly officials and provision of phosphorus-based fertilizer through the OCP Group to boost agricultural production.
The Governor hailed the MoU saying it was a step toward achieving sustainable development goals and promoting stronger intra-Africa collaboration. “This agreement represents more than just partnership between the two regions.
It serves as a blueprint for greater inter-regional cooperation across Africa, contributing to our shared goals of prosperity, development and peace,” Mutula said.
Makueni County will receive Sh264 million in annual instalments over the next five years, bolstering its development projects aimed at enhancing the county’s growth and prosperity, a communique from the governor’s office states.
The Governor was accompanied by the County Attorney Stanley Nthiwa, CECM Finance and Economic Planning Damaris Kavoi and Lead Strategic Partnerships Ms. Gloria Katheu Mulwa.