H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka at Investment Forum in Nairobi.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has challenged leaders and professionals to unite and play a greater role in the development of the country. “There is need for professionals to support the Government in exploring ways and means of exploiting untapped resources which if fully utilized can uplift the people’s living standards in the country," he said. The Vice President was speaking today at a Nairobi hotel during an investment forum in which MPs from the Ukambani region called for political unity ahead of 2012 elections.He said investments go hand in hand with political goodwill, saying it is through unity and teamwork that the much needed development in the region can be realized.

The Vice President further expressed concern over the continued degradation of water catchments in Ukambani among other regions and called for ways of reducing the trend.He challenged professionals from the region, to assist in the conservation of the environment to avert desertification in the area."There is serious environmental degradation in Ukambani and I therefore challenge professionals to help in containing the situation which is worsenedby  sand harvesting,’’ he said.

He said that the Government is committed to the development of the region citing the construction of an ICT center at Malili ranch and rehabilitation of manyroads in the region as some of the projects that the Government has heavily invested in. On constitution, Mr. Musyoka expressed optimism that with the new constitutional dispensation, wananchi will steer the country towards a vibrant middle income economy.He said the new constitution will greatly help residents in the region and urged them to support the implementation of the constitution ahead of its promulgation on Friday this week, noting that many investors have expressed their interest to invest in the country.

The Vice-President pointed out that the Government had developed a clear youth agenda to nurture and provide the country’s youthful population with lifetime gainful opportunities, urging Kamba leaders and professionals to unite and forge a common agenda to accelerate development in the region.