The North Rift Economic Bloc CEO Dr. Dominic Biwott met with Uasin Gishu County Assembly speaker Hon David Kiplagat on 10th June as NOREB readys to engage the legislative arm of the member counties and other important actors in the region on its constitutive documents.
The CEO introduced the UKAID – AHADI consultant who will provide technical support in finalizing the legal documents and lead the team of resource persons in spearheading the sensitization programme that is set to be rolled out with various stakeholders for the next two months.
Hon Kiplagat who is the Chairman of the region’s county assembly speakers’ forum pledged support for the legislative phase of anchoring NOREB in law. He urged the secretariat and the consultant to fast track activities that will see the documents get to the floor of member county assemblies for debate.
“The NOREB idea has been with us for a long time. The Bloc needs to be entrenched in law as soon as possible so that it can roll out programmes and attract funding and partnerships for the benefit of the residents of the North Rift. As speakers, we shall play our part to make sure the NOREB dream is realized.” Said Kiplagat
Dr. Biwott recognized UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for undertaking to support NOREB in the development of region’s economic blue print, legal documents and for agreeing to fund the various stakeholder engagement activities under their Agile Harmonized Assistance for Devolved Institutions (AHADI) programme.
“With support from DFID, we shall move fast in delivering a regional economic cooperation that is properly anchored in law.” Dr. Biwott said.
Together with the Secretariat, the consultant is drawing up a schedule of engagements that will see county assemblies, regional leadership, members of the County Executive Committees, professionals and the private sector players sensitized as well as make input on the developed legal documents for the bloc.