Nyeri and Laikipia Forge Cross-County Alliance for Regional Development
In a pioneering move for devolution, the County Governments of Nyeri and Laikipia have formally entered into a strategic partnership agreement to foster collaborative development that transcends their administrative boundaries. The landmark pact, signed by Governors Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) and Joshua Irungu (Laikipia), establishes a framework for joint initiatives in key sectors including tourism, agriculture, water resource management, and cross-border security. The partnership aims to leverage the unique strengths of each county to create a more integrated and economically robust central Kenya region.
The collaboration, dubbed the Aberdare Regional Economic Bloc, will initially focus on creating a unified tourism circuit that links Laikipia’s wildlife conservancies and ranches with Nyeri’s Aberdare National Park and rich cultural heritage sites. This is expected to boost visitor numbers and lengthen tourist stays. Furthermore, the counties will jointly address the perennial human-wildlife conflict along their shared border with the Aberdare Forest, deploying a combined team of rangers and a shared response system. Our communities are intertwined by geography and commerce. It is only logical that our governments work in unison to solve common challenges and exploit shared opportunities, stated Governor Kahiga during the signing ceremony at the Aberdare Water Front.
The announcement has been met with optimism from residents and business leaders on both sides of the county line. Farmers’ cooperatives have particularly welcomed the move, anticipating that it will lead to harmonized agricultural policies and joint market access for their produce. We often face different regulations and levies when transporting our milk and vegetables. A unified approach will reduce our costs and simplify trade, noted a representative from the Nyeri Dairy Farmers Cooperative. Hoteliers in Nanyuki and Nyeri town also see immense potential in packaging joint tourism offerings.
This partnership is viewed as a potential blueprint for other counties in Kenya, demonstrating how regional cooperation can amplify the benefits of devolution. The two county assemblies are set to ratify the agreement, after which joint technical committees will be formed to develop a detailed work plan. This is a testament to the maturity of devolution. We are moving beyond competition to collaboration for the greater good of our people. The success of this bloc will inspire other regions to follow suit, affirmed Governor Irungu, highlighting that discussions are already underway to potentially include Nyandarua County in the future.