We have today as the Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB) signed an agreement and a draft blue print for the bloc that will help us leverage economies of scale in the region in order to improve the livelihoods of people in our counties through joint implementation of projects and programs.

Together with Co-Chairman Governor Francis Kimemia of Nyandarua and other Governors, Deputy Governors, CECMs for Trade, Agriculture and Finance from the ten counties that constitute the bloc, we have discussed issues enhancing agricultural productivity through agro-processing and value addition to our farm produce.

We also had a special focus on coffee which is a major cash crop in the Central Part of Kenya and a significant foreign exchange earner but hasn't been doing very well in the recent past.

In this regard, we had deliberations on the Presidential Task Force Coffee Report and have agreed on a way forward. We want to assure the farmers that the recommendations and resolutions will go a long way in addressing the challenges faced by the coffee sector.

We thank the National Government for the Ksh 3 Billion given out for cherry farmers this financial year and we are hoping to translate it into a coffee revolving fund to be used as a Minimun Guarantee Return for coffee farmers.

We have also committed to jointly and with other blocs enforce the 50kgs Packaging Regulations for crops such as potatoes and other farm produce.

The bloc will also ensure speedy implementation of both County and National projects which will stimulate development within CEREB. For example, the revival of the old railway from Gilgil to Nyahururu to Nanyuki and the revival of Thika to Nanyuki and eventually connecting the LAPSSET project from Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and back to Sagana as part of the Vision 2030 program.

CEREB is the bloc that contributes the largest share of the Country's economy at over 26% of the total National GDP based on the recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

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