Lands Cabinet Secretary Hon Alice Wahome on Friday presided over the commissioning of new facilities at the Center for Mapping of Resources for Development, a regional institution serving 20 Eastern Africa countries with training and research in land related knowledge. The CS, who was representing President William Ruto at the ceremony in Kasarani, Nairobi, was accompanied by Lands and Physical Planning PS Generali Nixon Korir and senior officials of the Department. The CS commissioned the Research Center Training Institute Hostel and an Administration Complex. RCMRD, which serves 20 countries, was established in 1975 with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union. The center provides training and research in the provision of geo-information and allied technologies for sustainable development in the member States. The CS said the RCMRD centre is very key since it contributes to the development of skills and expertise within the region. She said the Lands Ministry was going to support the Centre to solve some of the challenges facing it. The CS said she supports a request made by the Director of RCMRD Mr Emanuel Nkurunziza to enable students pursuing courses at the center to benefit from the capitation from the National Government that students of other institutions of higher education benefit from. “Together with my PS, we are going to work closely with the Education CS Ezekiel Machogu to see that RCMRD gets funding to support the students,” said CS Wahome. Mr Nkurunziza said that the institution was forced to redirect its budget to educate more than 40 students were almost dropping out of their studies due to lack of funds Speaking during the event Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Hon. Generali Nixon Korir said the center plays an important role in the economic development of the 20 member states “RCMRD is a very important component of Lands for it offers geo-information training which is very useful in land digitization. The current world is focusing on technical knowledge,” said PS Korir. He encouraged the member States to continue collaborating and taking advantage of the knowledge, skills, expertise and innovations provided at the Center. Chairperson of the RCMRD Governing Council Dorcas Wagima Okalany, Kasarani area MP, Hon, Ronald Karauri, were among those attended the Launch. Also attending the ceremony were representatives from the member countries.
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