Figure 3-1 – Overview of Bungoma's Development Concept

Figure 3-1 outlines the development concept that integrates Bungoma’s Vision with the key economic sector plans (section 4.2 and 4.3) which include the soft initiatives, the priority VCs and the supporting infrastructure development interventions. This will enable climate-resilient and socially-inclusive economic growth across Bungoma.

Figure 3-1 - Overview of Bungoma's Development Concept

Source: Atkins, 2022

3.1 UEP Vision

A visioning exercise was undertaken at the workshop on 24 January 2022. Stakeholders were asked to consider the key elements of a UEP vision, whereby proposed vision statements were then submitted from 48 stakeholders present during the workshop.

The team has analysed these responses to identify common elements. The following elements were mentioned and articulated by the stakeholders, for the Town to be:

> A green, resilient and sustainable city; > A well-planned decongested Town with developed infrastructure; > An economic hub and centre for markets in the LREB; > An industrial hub; > A competitive town, attractive to investors, with a growing private sector; > Opportunities for inclusive employment in particular for the Youth; > The most productive agricultural county in Kenya; > Good governance; > Good road networks; > Clean; and > Inclusive and accessible.

The proposed vision that best represents the stakeholder’s aspirations is therefore stated as follows and adopted by the UEP: “A gateway to Uganda, Bungoma will continue to be a driving force for the LREB’s economy and leading agri-producer for Kenya. Bungoma will strive to be an exemplar of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development that puts the needs of its residents first.”

3.2 Setting the Concept

The concept for development of the UEP is grounded on the following priorities for development:

> Polycentric growth - The County’s forward planning framework (described in more detail in the Diagnostic

Report in Appendix A) highlights that although Bungoma

Municipality is the most populous centre in the County, there are a number of other large settlements scattered across the County. Bungoma County is keen to promote polycentric growth across a number of its key centres to encourage equitable growth across the County and to relieve pressures on strained infrastructure in the

Bungoma Municipality. These growth poles identified as centres of polycentric development, will be the key locations to support and promote Bungoma’s urban functionality and sustainable development through urban infrastructure interventions. > Gateway to Uganda - Bungoma County is well connected to three key border points to Uganda, including Malaba,

Busia, and Lwakhakha. This strategic position close to the border has, until now, presented mostly challenges to Bungoma in the form of heavy vehicle congestion, and trucks parking randomly on roadsides, as well as the local economy being undercut by low-cost produce from Uganda. However, its border location still presents a number of untapped opportunities for the County, including opportunities to: > Serve the growing logistics presence that passes through the Town allowing the local businesses to benefit from their passing trade; > Export processed produce to Uganda; > Utilise the affordable inputs from Uganda for agri-processing in the short term to ensure reliable supply chains; and > To provide value addition services for Uganda and a secure environment for investors looking to add value to Uganda’s produce where Kenya has a relatively better business environment for investment. > Build capacity to compete against neighbours –

Currently the greatest barrier Bungoma faces to unlocking real economic development is its lack of upstream capacity along its key supply chains. There is limited, if any, access to the required level of support: the majority of

Bungoma’s cooperatives are not functioning as they should.

Furthermore, Bungoma faces significant competition from already developed supply chains and value addition from its neighbouring counties such as Kisumu, Eldoret and

Trans-Nzoia, as well as from the more affordable produce in Uganda. There will be a need for significant changes and efforts to be made to support the supply chains and build capacity to support the key supply chains in Bungoma and ultimately create an environment that supports development and value addition along these. This barrier will be central to the development of the SAPs. > Unlocking land and densifying in urban areas –

Bungoma’s Town is growing quickly and has a range of essential and non-essential amenities and services that pull in visitors from the wider LREB and beyond. The Town plays a critical role as provider of public services such as health, welfare and education, as well as the administrative, financial and retail/trade centre. Development has occurred in a linear fashion along the two main roads in the County, the A8 and the C33, and outward growth is restricted by private lands, agricultural activities and the two rivers Sio and Khalaba. As a result, there is a need to densify the urban area to improve its functionality and connectivity.

This can begin by introducing contemporary, creative redevelopment solutions within the existing activities and land use in the Town centre. The aim of these interventions is to create a space that is functional, easily accessible to all, attractive for businesses and investors, that benefits the wellbeing of residents, suits the needs of traders, and ensures the safety of everyone who uses the space.

Ultimately these interventions will have the potential to unlock new activity in the CBD and create opportunities for future development to occur in a resilient, inclusive and sustainable manner. > Value addition and food security for the County - The primary aim of agri-processing in Bungoma will be to provide stable offtakes for the produce of Bungoma and improve food security for its residents and collaborate with the local retail/market sector. In the longer term, there may be opportunities to expand its supply chains beyond the counties and add value to produce from Uganda. However, the aim is not for Bungoma to become an agri-processing hub for the LREB, there are already a number of larger counties fulfilling this service, or in advanced planning stages, for example the nearby County of Eldoret is promoting the development of its own SEZ. > Maximising opportunities from Bungoma’s cultural diversity and its range of unique heritage and natural assets. The Chetambe Fort Ruins, the Sang’alo Cultural

Center, the Elijah Masinde Mausoleum, the diverse population and communities along with their traditions and different cuisines, are other examples of the key cultural assets of the County. There are a number of natural assets including the Sikele Sia Mulia and Mwibale rock, Nabuyole

Falls, Sang’alo Hill, and San’galo twin rock and caves. These assets all contribute to the attractiveness and the economic potential of Bungoma. Bungoma has an opportunity to harness these assets to make Bungoma a more attractive place to live, work, and visit.