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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.

Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Tuesday opened a one day mentorship seminar on servant and visionary leadership for Makueni University Students Association leaders at Wote.

The seminar is organized by the County Government in Partnership with the Africa Servant Leadership Development Initiative (ASLEAD).

According to governor Kibwana, the seminar is meant to build young visionary leaders for the county and country, who will provide a revolutionary leadership through peer influence in few years to come.

He said his administration is working towards getting young people to provide strategic leadership at all levels of administration in the county. For starters, Kibwana ordered the Education department to ensure each of the county bursary committees has a slot for a MUSA representative.

“This is the beginning point for building future great leaders for this county. I feel greatly empowered to go any length in the service for humanity,” Said Jane Syombua the assistant MUSA Secretary General Kaiti chapter.

Syombua is a Bachelor of Science in Medicine and Surgery student at Egerton University.