Makueni-USAID sign Partnership Agreement

Makueni on Thursday became the first out of the eight Prosper Counties to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to operationalize a US-Kenya trade agreement.

Prosper Counties comprises eight counties selected to participate in a U.S- Kenya trade agreement seeking to partner with counties and the private sector to advance Kenya’s journey to self-reliance by contributing to job creation, improving economic growth, and expanding tax revenues in Kenya’s secondary cities and rural areas.

The eight are Makueni, Kakamega, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu, Isiolo, Kisii and Kiambu and were selected based on high economic potential, effective governance practices (Makueni), and commitment to create an enabling business environment.

According to Mark Meassick, USAID Mission Director in Kenya who signed on behalf of the agency, USAID will utilize its networks to support workforce development, policy formulation and select public investments in key sectors including agribusiness, tourism, manufacturing, technology, finance and health in the county.

Under the Prosper Counties initiative, unveiled by President Uhuru Kenyatta on 30th October 2019 under the US Prosper Africa Presidential Initiative, the US government aims to leverage its expertise and relationships to support county level private sector solutions by investing in Business-to-Business relationships.

Governor Kibwana who signed the MoU on behalf of Makueni county government reiterated his commitment towards implementation of this partnership.

He said his administration will move with speed to ensure a legislation in the county assembly is passed for sustainability and ensure availability of funds where co-funding of projects is required.