Migori governor Okoth Obado (L) receives a potrait as a gift at his office in Migori town from Ranen youths on August 4

Three governors from the Lake Basin have agreed to form an economic block in efforts to promote economic development and promote investment opportunities in the region.

The trio also announced a corporation that will promote fishing sector in the region without over exploiting Lake Victoria whose fish quantity has tremendously reduced.

During a funds drive that raised more than Sh8 million towards women empowerment in Uriri High School, Migori County, Governors, Zachary Okoth Obado (Migori), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay) and John Nyagarama (Nyamira), said that the alliance will help them reduce poverty in the area and promote investment opportunities.

“Sharing investment opportunities is our key interest because I know for example if Homa Bay fails in development, then all its neighbouring counties will also be affected and that is not our wish,” said Awiti.

Obado said that it is important for the governors to come together in promoting alternative sources of fish such as fishponds so that pressure could be reduced on the Lake Victoria.

“The lake is our livelihood. It is our economic mainstay and we must ensure its resources are not plundered,” Obado said.

They said they will share common investment opportunities in their counties as a way of creating wealth to the people.

“Empowering development activities should be something that every county government which is keen on improving livelihoods of its people should prioritize by all means,” said Nyagarama.

Later, while speaking at the Homa Bay County Agricultural Show in Kendu Bay town, the leaders appealed to farmers from the Nyanza region to adopt new technologies to help boost food production.

“The counties in the region should move from traditional to mechanized agriculture using modern innovations,” Obado added.

Awiti added that it was important for counties in the region to form joint committees to monitor the utilization of resources from Lake Victoria to avoid over exploitation.

In Uriri, the governors raised funds for women groups from the eight sub counties of Migori County, a project dubbed ‘Kuku Pesa’ that has been initiated by Governor Zachary Okoth Obado’s wife, Hellen, aimed at bridging poverty gap among women in the area.

“Through this initiative, women will be saving from chicken products and this will eventually empower them economically in the region. My intention is to see Migori women move far from poverty to better life,” said Mrs Obado.