How Early Political Campaigns will Impact County Services

Perhaps leadership in Kakamega County could be affected as the Governor, Senator, and Representative Member of Parliament throw their hats into the early gubernatorial race.

The campaigns of these three individuals – Senator Boni Khalwale, Representative Member of Parliament Elsie Muhanda, and Governor Fernandes Barasa – have raised many questions, given that it has been only one year since they assumed office.

While citizens expected these leaders to spend most of their time implementing the development projects they promised during the lead-up to the General Election on August 9, 2022, they are instead engaged in political power struggles.

There is also concern that this situation may impact the delivery of services within Kakamega County Government.

Read also:The day Boni Khalwalwe suggested Moses Kuria was drunk on live TV

Dr. Khalwale and Ms. Muhanda point fingers at Governor Barasa, blaming him for failing to deliver on development projects.

This is despite the fact that the governor has been touring Kakamega County, inaugurating various projects.

“For the one year Barasa has been in office, there hasn’t been a single beneficial project they’ve launched, except for the road leading to his home in Matungu and another in the Khaunga area,” Senator Khalwale questioned.

“We see him going around claiming to launch development projects, but we don’t see anything. What are these projects that Barasa has been launching that we don’t see?” he added.

The governor and senator clashed two weeks ago when Dr. Khalwale urged Barasa to reallocate Ksh 387 million earmarked for the Madala tea factory in Shinyalu to compensate families to be relocated for the expansion of Kakamega’s small airport.

Dr. Khalwale stated that these families are ready to move but are waiting for the county government to provide an alternative place to build their homes and compensate them.

“The President visited Kakamega and told you (Barasa) that the issue of obtaining land for the expansion of the airport is under your jurisdiction. You were supposed to handle it, and you promised to do so.”

“With the help of MPs Fred Ikana (Shinyalu) and Benard Shinali (Ikolomani), we have made things easier by convincing our people to support the airport expansion, and they have agreed to move. However, I have tried to reach you in the past two weeks but haven’t been able to,” Senator Khalwale lamented.

But Mr. Barasa blamed Khalwale for failing to understand the procedures for how the government operates.

He said that the issue of compensating land for the expansion of Kakamega’s small airport falls under the national government’s jurisdiction, not his county government.

Ms. Muhanda, on the other hand, claimed that Governor Barasa has failed to streamline operations in the health sector, noting that health facilities are in a dire state.

This, she says, is despite timely funding from the national government to county governments.