Former Attorney General Amos Wako who is eyeing the senate seat confers with the Permanant Secretary in the Ministry of Speacila Programs Andrew Mondoh during the Bukhayo cultural festival held at Mungatsi, Nambale constituency. [Photo/ File]

As campaigns for the four elective positions at the county level in Busia are on high gear, more aspirants have continued to declare their interests in various positions.

Most of the hopefuls are utilizing every opportunity to sell their candidatures at sports tournaments, weddings, fundraisers and burials, places which they have converted into campaign platforms.

Being an election year, the area residents say those eying for the positions in the County must be prepared to grapple with the several challenges among them unemployment which has resulted many into poverty despite being endowed with resources.

“We need visionary leaders who are development conscious to ensure the many endowed resources in this area are exploited to boost the economy,” said James Ouma a local resident in Busia town.

Among those eying for the governor seat include Antony Ambugo a managing director at the Siaya-Bondo Water Services Company, Kizito Wangalwa the former National Taxpayers Association coordinator, Humphrey Nakitare the current Turkana central DC, Amagoro legislator Sospeter Ojaamong and Eng. Vincent Sidai who is his greatest opponent from the same constituency.

The former Attorney General Amos Wako has declared his interest to vie for the senate seat, making his first entry into the world of politics having served in the government for more than 20 years.

Some of the locals who spoke to West FM regarded Wako as an absentee who despite his senior position in government for decades has done little to uplift development in the area.

Rumors have indicated that the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Paul Otuoma who is also the Funyula legislator has interest in the senate seat though he has not declared publicly his interest in the position.

On his part, Jacob Mallo a local resident says there is need for a transformational leader who has the capacity and ability to empower the people in the entire county.

“He should be able to assemble a team that will look at the competitive advantage of every region in the entire County,” he said adding that there is need for locals to be empowered about the positions to contribute fully.

He adds that leaders should not be vetted in terms of their area of origin or the numbers backing them, but for what they stand for to avoid the issue of tribalism being a cosmopolitan area.