The agriculture and Health sectors will be the biggest beneficiaries of the partnership between Uasin Gishu County and the Government of Israel.
The partnership was cemented following a two-day visit by the Israel ambassador to Kenya Michael Lotem.
Lotem, accompanied by a delegation visited a number of key areas of interest among them several agricultural farms, the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) and the Uasin Gishu District Hospital.
Addressing the media at the end of the envoy’s two day-visit, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim said the county is poised to reap big from the partnership with Israel.
“Israel is a start-up nation in technology and agriculture and from a visit to various farms, we have noted that the county has a big potential in the sustainability plan and with the entry of Israel, we’re destined for greatness,” said the county boss.
Some of the benefits the Agriculture sector will be getting from the partnership include farmers getting training by the Israeli government on best practices.
The county government of Uasin Gishu will also be importing semen of the latest breed from Israel which will boost milk production.
“Israel dairy cows produce an average of 40 kilos of milk a day compared to local dairy cows that produce only 4.6 litres,” said Chelilim.
Ksh437m medical equipment
In the Health sector, the Uasin Gishu-Israel partnership will see county health facilities get medical equipment worth about 5.3 million dollars, an equivalent of Ksh437 million.
The partnership will be implemented in phases, starting with hospital lab innovation in all health facilities in Uasin Gishu –with emphasis on the Uasin Gishu District Hospital.
“Israel will also support training for health staff, provision of medical equipment as well as help in digitization of health inventory management,” said Governor Chelilim.
Diagnostic equipment to reduce patient referrals will also be provided.
Digitization of water supply
The Israeli government has also pledged to support the county government in improving water provision by digitizing the process through the adoption of new technology.
Under this partnership, the county will import smart metres from Israel, and also construct more dams through the Public-Private partnership (PPP).
Further, the Eldoret Municipality will benefit from the mobilization of investors that will focus on housing, solid waste management and urban mobility among others.
“Israel has a good solid waste management system where 90 per cent of the solid waste is recycled and used for Agriculture,” said the Uasin Gishu Governor.
There are also plans to twin Eldoret town with Israel’s Afula city, located in the Northern District of Israel, often known as the “Capital of the Valley” due to its strategic location in the Jezreel Valley.
