The national government has been faulted for paralyzing operations in County governments due to delaying to release County funds. Speaking during the burial of Bumula MP’s father the late Maurice Mabonga, in Mwiyenga village, Kimaeti ward of Bungoma County, Kakamega Governor and the Council of Governors chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya stated that for the past three months County governments haven’t received money from the national government and operations have been affected, “We can’t run County operations without money,” he added.
He urged the government to revive sugar factories in Western Kenya, given that residents depend on that for a living. He said as the co-chair of the sugar task force, they presented a report to the relevant authorities and up to now it hasn’t been implemented.
He opposed the proposal of County governments running the sugar factories, “County governments can’t manage to run sugar factories because of debt, we are still waiting for the sugar task force report that we compiled to be implemented.”
Oparanya further revealed that Governors of Western Counties have began talks with the national government to set up a cancer treatment centre in Western to help residents cut travel expenses in search of treatment, “We have agreed as Governors to set up a cancer centre in the region and we’ll decide where to set it up.”
However, the Governor was challenged by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and his Malava counterpart Malulu Injendi, who said he shouldn’t push the BBI train and instead he should try and ensure the money allocated for the referendum is channeled to sugar factories to clear debts.
