By John Majau
Isiolo town was anticipated to be the economic game changer in Kenya in terms of connecting the nation to Sub Saharan Africa and land locked Countries.
Drafters of the 2010 constitution envisioned Isiolo to be a resource city that would be an economic hub for Kenya but the dream seems likes a facade due to lack of political good will and unwilling pastoralists to relinquish their communal land for its expansion.
Isiolo city, the bedroom of vision 2030 is encrypted for abrupt facelift once the infrastructural development projects including Sh 800 million Abattoir, Isiolo Airport, Sh 51billion Isiolo-Mandera road, railway line connectivity to South Sudan, Oil refinery, modern market but which have stalled despite World Bank’s fund allocation.
Isiolo Municipality manager Osman Halake Dadacha however noted that the dream to make Isiolo a resource city is alive and urged development partners, the county, national governments and investors to chip in for it to realize the vision.
Dadacha said politics, social economics, insecurity and finances are the main hindrance to realization of this economic booster to ASAL counties.
He also said water scarcity, steep slopes and insufficient land for expansion for amenities, infrastructures and Sewerage are disastrous to achieving the vision.
“The resource city will enhance and foster linkage between Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia. The city will open up the region to the Middle East as a trade Centre for fresh produce, value added products and livestock among other entrepreneurship endeavors. It will create jobs, empower people and transform lives to marginalized Northern Kenya counties,” Dadacha said.
The national government had projected a 2012-2024 budget of at least Sh2 trillion for the LAPSET project.
Dadacha added that Isiolo is a tourist corridor, saying that once urbanized it will turn around the economy of the Country.
He said the municipality, while aided by British government and World Bank has developed a roadmap for solid waste master plan and storm water master plan in readiness for the city.
The LAPSSET Corridor Program is Eastern Africa’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project bringing together Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
This mega project consists of seven key infrastructure projects starting with a new 32 berth port at Lamu (Kenya); Interregional Highways from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba (South Sudan), Isiolo to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and Lamu to Garsen (Kenya), Crude Oil Pipeline from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba; Product Oil Pipeline from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Addis Ababa; Interregional Standard Gauge Railway lines from Lamu to Isiolo, Isiolo to Juba, Isiolo to Addis Ababa, and Nairobi to Isiolo; three international airports: one each at Lamu, Isiolo, and Lake Turkana; three resort cities: one each at Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana; and the multipurpose high grand falls dam along the Tana River.
