The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
A high-level meeting involving leaders, professionals, and members of the Ukambani Agenda Technical Team took place on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to discuss key development priorities for the Kamba community.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
The meeting, which followed an earlier session at Maanzoni, aimed to set a clear roadmap for economic empowerment, leadership roles, and infrastructure development in the region.
Dr. Alfred Mutua, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, who led the discussions, stressed the importance of unity in tackling the challenges facing Ukambani. He reaffirmed the commitment of local leaders to sustainable progress and to ensuring the region plays a more prominent role in national development.
A major focus was the empowerment of the Kamba people through leadership opportunities and professional growth. The leaders resolved to advocate for increased representation in key sectors, ensuring the community has a voice in influential decision-making both within government and private sectors.
Mutua underscored that empowerment is a key element of progress and emphasized the need for deliberate efforts to create more opportunities for Ukambani residents.
The meeting also reaffirmed the commitment to development priorities that will drive the region’s economic transformation. Infrastructure, education, and employment were identified as critical areas requiring immediate focus.
The leaders emphasized transparency and accountability as core principles for all initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of the Kamba people.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the decision to engage directly with President William Ruto to present the region’s development agenda. Key issues to be discussed include improving road networks, enhancing education standards, expanding access to clean water, advancing electrification, and creating more job opportunities for youth.
The leaders also plan to advocate for better business support, including increased access to credit and funding for local entrepreneurs, and for greater representation of Kamba professionals within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Youth empowerment was another critical issue. Recognizing the importance of young people in shaping the future, the leaders resolved to launch mentorship and skills development programs to equip them for leadership and professional opportunities.
Mutua highlighted that without preparing the youth for success, the long-term growth of the region would be at risk.
To ensure that the development agenda reflects the actual needs of the people, the leaders announced plans to hold listening tours across Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties, as well as other areas with significant Kamba populations, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, Taveta, Embu, and Kwale. The aim is to gather firsthand feedback from the community and incorporate this into the broader development strategy.
Mutua also emphasized the importance of recognizing and harnessing the Kamba community’s contributions to national development. He reiterated that the community’s economic, intellectual, and political strength must be leveraged to drive meaningful change at both the regional and national levels.
As part of their next steps, the leaders plan to formalize and submit a request for a meeting with President Ruto, organize grassroots engagements, launch youth mentorship programs, and follow up on ongoing projects related to roads, education, water, electricity, and job creation.
The upcoming Maanzoni 2 event is expected to solidify these resolutions, providing a platform for further discussions and ensuring the implementation of these strategies remains on track.
