Peter Gwengi, the Migori County Rotary Treasurer with a donation from the Down Town Los Angeles Rotary Club of a water tank at Radienya Primary School in Nyatike constituency

Professionals in Western Kenya have urged to do more towards improving lives of residents living in the region.

Speaking in Migori town, Assistant Governor in charge of Western region Mr. Laban Okun said small projects funded by local groups held key to unlocking the regions potential.

“As professionals, we should be able to undertake some of these projects without having to necessarily look for aid from foreign donors. This is one way of giving back to the society” he said.

Mr. Okun, who spoke during the induction ceremony of the new officials of the Rotary club of Suna Migori said the club had already launched a number of projects which he said will go a long way in improving access to public facilities in the region.

He said among areas Rotary was targeting was working with schools and hospitals towards improving access to water, something he said remained a great challenge in the region.

On his part, club President William Bobo said the club had already rolled out water and sanitation project which he said was currently being implemented in Suna West and Kuria West sub counties.

“The project is being implemented jointly by the Suna Migori Rotary club and the Rotary club of Mfangano and is worth five million shillings” he said adding that a total of eight schools will benefit from the project.

Speaking at the same function, club Public Relations Officer Mr. Nick Oluoch said the club had at the same time rolled out a number of smaller club funded projects which will be undertaken across the eight sub counties in Migori.

“Some of the small projects we are looking at include marking zebra crossings along the roads near schools, something which a lot of local leaders have been calling for,” he said.

He said the club was also in the process of marking speed bumps, especially along the Migori-Kisii Highway which also acts as the gateway to neighbouring Tanzania among other projects.

Mr. Oluoch further called on other institutions and corporate bodies to step in and join hands with the club towards promoting aspects such as road safety and increasing access to water saying this still remained some of the biggest challenges facing the region.

Also present at the function include Anne ombewa, Rotary Assistant governor in an event which saw among a number of newly elected officials inducted into office among them club Treasurer Peter Gwengi, Club Administrator Elisha Otieno among others.