Barasa rubbishes critics, bags Injendi’s support as he confers Malava with Municipality status
Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa has blasted his political rivals fond of accusing his government of under development, warning that he will not be derailed by their sentiments.
Speaking on November 18 in Malava sub county during its conferment to a municipality status, Barasa assured the residents that he was committed to delivering his promises to the residents of the county.
He warned those campaigning against his leadership that they were in for a rude shock considering that he has initiated a string of development projects in various sub counties that will transform the lives and face of Kakamega.
Addressing the public who had turned out in large numbers to witness the auspicious occasion, Barasa maintained that the county was headed in the right direction as far as development is concerned and cautioned his competitors to desist negative politics and instead focus on their mandate as leaders so as their scorecards can sell their bids in 2027.
Barasa noted that many people including the incumbent Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, who has declared interest in the county gubernatorial seat, to tread carefully as election time was still far away and should hence focus on their respective dockets and stop salivating for his position as it was not going to be vacant in the coming ten years.
The governor who signed the municipality charter said 80 % of employees at the municipality will be from Malava with former chief officer environment Msafiri Kulova being named as the chief executive officer of the new municipal.
“It is indeed a great day to the Malava people as this municipality issue is long overdue and Malava becomes the 4th municipality after Butere that we have also launched and tomorrow we will be commissioning the Matunda one,” he said.
“And this is the way to go in opening our towns to growth and job creations to our young people and with the coming of these municipalities, a lot of good things including infrastructure development, (roads, water, sewerage system, and even financial institutions will come up,” he added.
Among the projects slated to be soon implemented in Malava includes the Malava Dairy which the contractor has been given two more months to complete before President Ruto comes to commission it.
Another one is the 7.6 Kilometre bitumen road leading to the dairy project, Butali-Malekha road, slotted in the next financial year budget and the Samitsi-Navakholo road.
So far the county has already procured Ksh150Million worth of drugs from KEMSA to be distributed in the county health facilities.
Next year grants for women groups and youths has increased from 15 to 20 groups per ward with each group being awarded Ksh50, 000.
At the same time Kakamega County is playing host to the KICOSCA games, 11th edition, that comprises of all the 47 counties.
Oh his part, Malava MP Malulu Injendi hailed the commitment displayed by the governor in elevating Malava into a municipality as it has clearly shown that he was concerned about the welfare of the locals.
He revealed that he was working closely with all the nine MCAs to support the governor’s development plans.
“If you want development, let’s support our leaders as everyday squabbles slows down growth, and I’m happy that we are working as one team to realise this and even our political foes have opted to join us we forge forward as a team,” he noted.
He cautioned those using social media platforms to spread malice about Barasa being locked out of Malava due to his alleged failed development in the region to desist as it was in bad faith and meant to paint the sub county as an opposition and hostile region to the county boss.
He said with the municipality in place, World Bank funding will be coming to develop the town and a lot of many good things will crop up eventually.
He also encouraged the locals to embrace the new health care system SHA despite its registration problems.
Deputy governor Ayub Savula assured the residents that his pact with Barasa was a strong one and could not be shaken by aspiring candidates and that they were all set for two terms in office.
