Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka has urged the residents of his county to support his decision to work with and support the Jubilee government in order to realize more development projects in the county. Speaking at Nabing’eng’e village in Tongaren constituency during the burial ceremony of George Kevin Mang’oli a brother to Nzoia sugar company board chairman Joash Wa Mang’oli, Lusaka said that he has always wanted the people of Bungoma to get the best from both the county and national government hence that is why he chose to work with the UhuRuto government and join the Jubilee government that is set to be launched next Saturday.
“I might be short in size or height but I am very bright in making decisions that are good for my people, therefore I urge you to support our course to be part of this government and the next government to be formed after next year’s elections,” said the governor.
He cited an example of a case where there are two grinding mills and one of them is in good condition while the other has its conveyer belt cut and has been taken for repair yet you still find some people queuing at a mill that is under repair yet there is one that is working.
Lusaka who was comparing the Jubilee ruling coalition and the CORD opposition coalition wondered why people should follow the opposition that has no development projects to offer yet the government of the day is ready to deliver a lot of development to them.
He further pointed out several projects that the county and national governments are doing jointly for the people of Bungoma citing the Misikhu to Brigadier that is soon going to be tarmacked jointly by the county and national government jointly.
Lusaka said that the tarmacking of the road in the maize producing area is crucial to the residents to ensure that there is flow of transport and improve on the economic ventures of the residents.
Other projects included a milling plant in Brigadier which he said the contractor shall soon be on site despite a short delay that has been experienced among other projects such as lighting of towns in the county and improving of health facilities.
The anticipated reopening of Panpaper Mills in Webuye in the course of this month of September, the awarding of the charter to Kibabii University whose first graduation shall be in November and the building of technical institutions including Nabing’eng’e technical institute that the national government is spending Kshs 100 million in its construction among many others that Lusaka said are just but a few of the benefits of working with the national government.
Cautioned those sabotaging his achievements
However he cautioned other politicians against criticizing everything that the county government under his leadership without recognizing any tangible project done by the county government.
“Sometimes I wonder why my fellow leaders are fond of criticizing me just because I am in Jubilee yet they are also benefitting from the projects that my county government and national government have delivered especially roads and lights that everyone uses on a daily basis,” Lusaka added.
He called for respect among political leaders in the region for them to achieve the Luhya unity that most of them have been championing for instead of undermining and ridiculing their fellow leaders.
“If you insult me and do not have any respect for me yet i have a wife, children, relatives and friends whom I can marshal to support you but do you think I am a full to offer my support even after such insults? Please lets respect each other even as we advocate for Luhya unity,” said the governor who was accompanied with a host of senior officers in his administration as he moved from one funeral to another.
He vowed to fight for the downfall of any politician who is out there fighting him not to be re-elected in next year’s polls.
“If you are an elected leader like me and you are busy planning for my downfall, do you think I will accept to go home alone, No, we better go home together if that is what you want but I won’t accept to go alone,” he noted.
The funeral was also attended by Nzoia sugar managing director Godfrey Wanyonyi, directors Mary Waiswa and John Chikati who revealed that the company was committed to opening up roads in the entire Tongaren constituency as they urged residents to embrace sugar cane farming in the area that is dominated by maize farmers.
Chikati further revealed that Nzoia Sugar Company had also opened an office at Naitiri Market that can aid the cane farmers in the region as far as sugar cane farming is concerned.
Tongaren Member of national assembly Dr. Esseli Simiyu used the opportunity to refute claims and rumours that he will not defend his parliamentary seat claiming that he is gunning for the seat of senator that is currently held by Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Masika Wetang’ula.
“I would like to make it clear here that I am not going to vie for any other seat other than defending my parliamentary seat of Tongaren constituency and those who are spreading rumours that I am going to vie for the seat of senator are worried of my candidature hence want to use the rumours as a tool to be accepted by the electorate but I assure you that I am here to defend my seat and shall soon start my campaigns,” the legislator revealed.
On his part Wa Mang’oli broke down in tears as he recalled how he was close to his late brother whom he described as a true brother who stood with him in all political decisions and movements that he made right from KANU, UDF and now his support for the Jubilee government.
The late Mang’oli who was a contractor based in Eldoret town is survived by a widow Joy Mang’oli and four children, one boy and three girls.
