The 6th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference

The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) holds the Annual Conference in the Coastal Region of Kilifi County, Themed: “Accelerating Economic Growth and Development for ASALs in Kenya.” This year’s Conference aims to discuss topics that offer solutions to the problems facing the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASALs) Regions in Kenya.

ASALs Regions are areas in Kenya that receive very low and irregular rainwater resulting to multiple ecological difficulties that require harmonious resolutions.

While officially opening the 6TH KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference at Pwani University, in Kilifi County, the Deputy President, H.E. Hon. Rigathi Gachagua said that the Conference comes at such an appropriate time when the government is trying in all ways to solve the challenges of Food Security and the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He flagged out this year’s theme saying that it was very deeply scrutinized since it speaks to the priorities of BETA whose main objective is; inclusivity to benefit those at the bottom of the pyramid and in turn restore dignity to Kenyans.

In his speech, the Deputy President, pointed out that the ASALs Counties faced with perennial drought and water shortage for both humans and livestock will benefit immensely from the policy resolutions that will come out of the three-day conference.

The DP added that despite 29 out of 47 Counties being either in Arid or Semi-Arid Lands, they have the potential to grow economically if the government and other partners deploy; clear interventions, key draught mitigations and formulate ASALs specific policies that will reduce poverty levels and expand development.

Some of the projects being implemented by the government in ASALs include drilling of boreholes to build resilience, exploitation of natural resources, green energy, deep sea fishing for counties along the coastal strip and many others. If well implemented, these projects and other government initiatives will improve; agricultural production, trade, water supply and overall livelihoods.

The Deputy President appraised KIPPRA for being so focused in building pillars and leveraging on principles that strengthen policy formulation, undertaking and advocating for research that stimulates economic growth, integrating capacity building, and prioritizing collecting and collating data that promotes the government agenda.

Others who attended and addressed the gathering included; the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi Arid Lands and Regional Development, CS Rebecca Miano, State Department for Economic Planning Principal Secretary, PS James Muhati, Kilifi County Governor, Gideon Mungaro and KIPPRA Executive Director, Dr. Rose Ngugi among others.