Bungoma governor, Kenneth Lusaka, has called on politicians to have respect to each other and not engage in insults every time they are given a chance to address a congregation.
Speaking during Madaraka day celebrations in Kanduyi, Lusaka said it was wrong for politicians seeking elective seats to insults incumbents in order to gain popularity with voters.
Lusaka, said that cord co principals Moses Wetang’ula and Raila Odinga should engage the government through dialogue as opposed to being tear gassed while trying in to forcefully eject IEBC commissioners from office.
The governor said that their move to meet the president will at least shelve them from the anger of public scrutiny in which they are christened “jubilee moles” whenever they visit statehouse to discuss development projects, adding that as the Luhya nation they are ready to support senator Wetang’ula if cord will endorse him as their undisputed presidential flag bearer.
He added that Each County Executive Member took an oath of office to serve the people of Bungoma and to uphold the Constitution saying they must account for the positions they hold individually.
“In this regard, my government will at the beginning of the next financial year hold public forums where CEC’s and the Chief Officers will present their achievements for the three years that they have been in office. I am inviting the public to scrutinize and assess our performances.” He said.
He further added that his development agenda was the one that will ensure his re-election and not insults to other leaders stating that he will remain committed to service delivery to the electorate and not distracted by propaganda by his critics.
“Despite our efforts to clean my administration of crafty and dishonest staff, we still have a lot of work to do to end corruption in our midst. Some of the sanctions we have taken have not been carried to conclusion because of complicated labour procedures and the requirements of natural justice. Because of this, I have been accused of paying lip service to graft. I want to ask our critics to hold their horses. I am optimistic that in the end, I will be vindicated for my actions.” He said.
He also said he is confident that even the most ardent critic of his administration will agree that Bungoma today is not where it was three years ago the county has made significant improvement in many areas, even though a lot still needs to be done to achieve the county’s vision.
“Some of the challenges we face predate county governments while others call for greater collaboration between the public and the government to solve. I am a firm believer in criticism and I believe nothing great comes from acquiescence” he stated.
Bungoma county commissioner, Joshua Chepchieng, has warned politicians against engaging in early campaigns.
Chepchieng said placing the county in a campaign mood was not healthy for fulfilling the development agenda.
He said politicians were busy starting early campaigns yet the period for campaign had not yet been declared by the polls commission.
Chepchieng further stated that early campaigns would lead to tension as politicians would start dividing the people along political divide.
He added that there was a time for engaging in active politics and it was wrong for politicians to engage in premature campaigns.
He further cautioned youth to stop engaging in activities that would endanger their lives and those of other citizens saying politics was not a reason for one to lose life or property.
He stated that politicians and elections were seasonal and as such people should only engage in politics when the proper time comes
He added that plans were at an advanced stage to settle landless residents from mt. Elgon at the Chepyuk settlement scheme phase two and phase three and asked worrying communities in the area to patient as the government finalizes on how to resettle all of them.
However, Bungoma county assembly speaker John Makali decried that the executive was giving them a hard task by failing to fast track implementation of all the bills that had been passed by the assembly.
Makali said that if the bills would have been implemented, then the heat that is directed at the governor for “sleeping on job” would be a thing of the past.
