The projects in the popular wish list
presented by Western MPs to President
Uhuru Kenyatta at State House
last year may not be completed before
the election, following the imminent
collapse of a caucus.
In June last year, 25 Western MPs,
led by Budalang’i’s Ababu Namwamba,
met Uhuru and Deputy President
William Ruto to discuss ways to uplift
the region’s economic status and
revive the struggling Mumias Sugar
Company.
The government agreed to set aside
Sh1 billion for the ailing firm. It has so
far released Sh 3.3 billion to Mumias
Sugar.
The leaders, under the Western Parliamentary
Caucus, presented a list of
projects, including the completion of
the Kisumu-Kakamega-Webuye and
Sigalagala-Butere-Sidindi roads started
by the grand coalition government.
The projects have dragged on for more than five years. Uhuru postponed his visit to the
region from today to next Thursday.
He travelled to Morocco for the COP
climate conference. Uhuru was supposed
to preside over Kibabii University’s
first graduation ceremony in
Bungoma county.
Other roads the MPs proposed
for tarmacking include the Ibokolo-Shianda-Malaha-Nambacha,
Lurambi-Nambacha-Musikoma,
Musikoma-Buyofu-Nambale and Turbo-Sikhendu roads.
Lugari MP Ayub Savula yesterday
said, “I led the first meeting to State
House, where we presented a number
of roads we wanted tarmarcked and
proposed professionals for appointment
to state corporations and other
jobs.”
The second meeting was led by
chairman John Bunyasi (Nambale).
Savula said the group’s efforts were
in vain because only Water CS Eugene
Wamalwa was appointed.
The group’s main agenda was to
collectively engage the government on
pressing issues, regardless of the political
affiliations of members.
Savula said the group’s agenda got
lost when political party interests
overtook the community goals and
everyone went his way.
“It is only today that our group secretary
Malulu Injendi (Malava) sent
text messages to members to support
Funyula MP Paul Otuoma following
the death of his son,” he said.
Savula said ODM members lost
trust in Bunyasi and accused him of
driving the agenda of ANC.
Members from Jubilee also saw
their ODM counterparts as advancing
their party ideals, making it difficult
to hold together, the MP said.
Washiali told the Star on the phone
yesterday, “We realised the attendance
was reducing by the day. The
last meeting was held at Sabatia MP
Alfred Agoi’s home in Vihiga county
without representation from Bungoma
county.”
He said members are willing continue
pushing the caucus agenda, but
political interests are pulling them
apart.
The imminent collapse of the
group means leaders continue to operate
independently, slowing down
development.
Injendi said the group achieved
some of its goals, including pushing
for the award of a charter to Kibabii
University to make it the second fullfledged
university in the region.
“We cannot say the roads we requested
to be built have been ignored
because the government works
through clear structures and most of
them are at the tender stage,” he said.
Injendi said the group is still active.
“It’s just that members respect each
other’s positions,” he said.
The Western Parliamentary Caucus
held a two-day retreat in Busia town
last year. Issues discussed included
the failure of a candidate from Western
to secure the chairmanship of
the parliamentary Public Accounts
Committee following Namwamba’s
removal.
The ailing Mudete tea factory was
also discussed.