Written By Vanessa Kariuki || 

The North and North Eastern Development Initiative (NEDI) consultative conference was held this morning at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, under the direction of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua argued that opening up the Northern regions of Kenya to development will help spur their development.

“The North and North Eastern Region is a critical, potential, and strategic region for Kenya’s National Security and Development,” Gachagua said.

According to the Deputy President, the Northern area holds the key to resolving Kenya’s problems with food security.

He continued by saying that the World Bank was sending a mission to implement and assist projects in Northern Kenya in an effort to hasten the pace of development.

“For a long time, this region has received minimal development support, and this intervention by the World Bank will go a long way to enhance the gains that have been made by the government, development partners and communities in the areas,” said the DP.

He asserted that the only way to improve the standard of living for the populace was to open up the area and build vital infrastructure.

Gachagua claimed that the government is on track with its development plans to turn the huge areas in the Northern region into agricultural land.

“Working with the development partners led by the World Bank, we will make sure these programmes and other interventions under the NEDI are successfully implemented,” said Gachagua.

Hon. Nathif Adam (Garissa), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Mohamed Khalif (Mandera), Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), and Jonathan Lelelit (Samburu) were among the governors present, along with a number of legislatures and other stakeholders.