Lusaka to Ruto: Mr President, this is what we want

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka has told President William Ruto that the border county is on the path to achieving its development goals despite a myriad of challenges, while at the same time requesting for more assistance.

Lusaka, speaking during the burial ceremony of Mama Anna Nanyama Wetang’ula on January 3 in Kabuchai, asked the President to remember the key development promises he made to the people of Bungoma and ensure they are completed.

Mama Nanyama is the mother of Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi.

Top on the list of priority, Lusaka requested the national government to come in and upgrade the Bungoma Level 5 hospital to a Level 6 facility.

“It’s not the right forum but I want to request you…and it’s not that you don’t know, it’s just to remind you. Level 5 Hospital in Bungoma were ready. Please I know our minister is from here. The cabinet memo will be coming to you, please help assist us elevate it into Level 6,” Lusaka requested Ruto.

According to the governor, the county is ready to have the hospital upgraded into a bigger one in order to have a larger capacity of serving more people and offering expanded services.

Also, on the list was road infrastructure where he requested the President to help in getting contractors do their works to highest standards.

At the same time, he touched on revival of the sugar sector especially revival of the once giant miller, Nzioa Sugar Company.

The governor also seized the chance and boasted how the county had overcome challenges to have residents register for the controversial Social Health Authority (SHA) fund explaining that at the beginning, it was slow but at the moment, according to figures, the county is now at number seven and hopes to do much better.

“In terms of SHA, we started slowly but we are now at number seven in the country and we are determined to be number one,” he said urging residents that: “Please, let us not be doubting Thomases, when something comes, we always want to doubt.”

And while he condoled with the Wetang’ula family, he revealed the special bond they share leaving mourners in stitches.

Lusaka, in his signature humorous style, revealed that the Speaker was his teacher in Form Two, while MP Tim Wanyonyi was his school mate him in Form Three and Tim in Form One and at the same time, the widower, Dominic Wetang’ula, was their board chairman.

Now, the Speaker is the Ford Kenya Party leader while Lusaka is his deputy; and the home governor of Tim Wanyonyi and his father Mr Dominic.