NOREB BLOC TO RATIFY BILL FOR ITS OPERATIONALIZATION

Governors from North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) led by its current chair Nandi County Governor H.E. Stephen Sang have resolved to pass and ratify Noreb Bill during a forum held in Ciala Resort Kisumu.

NOREB Chair Governor Sang said it was time to finally pass the bill which will have a huge impact in introducing NOREB to the nation. He noted that without the bloc being founded in law, the member counties cannot be able to fully reach and utilize its full potential.

Governor H.E. Simon Kachapin pointed out that passing the Cooperation agreement was long overdue, calling on county assemblies from member counties to prioritize ratifying the bill as soon as possible.

“NOREB needs to be a legal entity for it to benefit from some of the strategic interventions we’ll need to advance our counties. I beseech all of us to own this process and the bloc. We must make this a priority for all of us here,” said Governor Kachapin.

The bill seeks to give the integration a legal backing and a structured operational framework. If approved, the bill will guide the bloc’s collective activities and programmes for implementation and commonly pursue opportunities in economic collaboration, food security, peace and integration among the member counties.

The forum brought together County Assemblies’ speakers, deputy speakers, majority and minority leaders, majority and minority whips led by County Assemblies Forum (CAF) Chair Hon. Kiplagat Sabulei, West Pokot County Speaker Hon. Fred Siywat among other officials from NOREB counties.

County assemblies’ forum chair and Elgeyo-Maraket County Speaker Hon. Kiplagat Sabulei called for a special sitting to pass the bill in the shortest time possible to enable the bloc the start the processing of implementing its agenda.

Turkana County Governor H.E. Jeremiah Lomorukai, Uasin-Gishu Governor H.E. Jonathan Bii, Baringo Governor H.E. Benjamin Cheboi and NOREB Bloc’s Founding CEO Dr. Dominic Biwott were part of the forum.

Deputy governors H.E. Robert Komolle from West Pokot, H.E. Prof. Grace Cheserek from Elgeyo-Marakwet, H.E. Dr. Elita Mutai Cheruiyot from Nandi County and H.E. Philomena Kapkory from Trans-Nzoia also attended the forum.

Bloc brings together West Pokot, Baringo, Uasin-Gishu, Nandi, Turkana, Trans-Nzoia, Samburu and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties.