This is a gigantic piece of investment in our region, championed by our own people. I hear they intend to do it in four phases and I have heard a figure of Shs. 40 billion – by the end of the final phase - or so mentioned. That would be mega by any standard: certainly the unrivalled giant of our region. As I said last time this only reminds me of South Africa’s Sandton City and Sun City combined. Sandton is an up market residential and business hub designed and built as a complete, ideal, self-contained city. Sun City, on its part is a tourist resort with a golf-course, an artificial lake, a bit of Disney World here and there, serious gambling facilities as well as plenty fun places for the less serious gamblers. It is a heaven on earth. Our people are thinking small no more.
This will be a first sign of things to come thanks to devolution: our own investors are regaining confidence in our own region and seem to be ready to pour in all they have and what they can borrow because this is home. Outsiders and international investors will hinge their confidence on our own demonstrated confidence. What this means is that if we can have so much confidence in the economy of our counties as to so wantonly pour our resources in it then why not they?! I heard the Chairman of Kass FM, C.K. Joshua, the other day extort the community to focus on three things: 1) Economy, 2) Economy, and 3) Economy. This then is it, isn’t it? The spin-off from this gigantic project can be immense and far-reaching. Think of the employment during construction, catering for the builders, transportation, etc., and then, of course, the job opportunities that will be created by the various business units within the gigantic project.
The planned city, Sergoit, will be situated between Eldoret and Iten and will be a satellite city – an extension of Eldoret. The area is also ideal for high-altitude training for our athletes. With specialized gyms and tracks we will dominate the world sooner than later in the shorter races, just as we currently do in the longer races.
They talk of a Five-star hotel next to the animal sanctuary that Sergoit is known for. If they will draw the tourist dollars that are channeled to other regions of the country currently, why not!? Our share of the tourism dollars may not only rise but we may be responsible for drawing in more tourists in our own right.
Don’t let us forget that Eldoret is about to take off in ways unpredicted only recently: it is going to be a gateway to South Sudan. How shall we, the Koot aap Myoot benefit from that regional development other than position ourselves by putting in place such amenities and other infrastructural projects? This example will shine bright and invite more such ventures, as well as other brave initiatives by way of commercial and industrial ventures. This is a piece of infrastructural development that will only produce more and more replications: that is how our region and country will develop faster.
Eldoret now is our community’s best foot forward: already it is an educational hub, it is the world’s summit of athletics and, if we could conquer the world in athletics, why not in everything else. Yes we can: athletic prowess is only a symptom of our potential, we have all that it takes and why not delve into investment and shine there as well? I will be one of the first to buy whatever will be sold by way of shares or plots: I know an opportunity when I see one!
Araap Sambu
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