Former Agriculture Principal Secretary Prof Hamadi Boga has challenged elected leaders in Kwale to serve wananchi diligently to improve their lives.
Boga said the leaders must ensure the problems affecting residents are addressed in a timely manner and enhance service delivery to curb poverty and transform the county economy.
He said Kwale and Africa at large face a myriad of problems ranging from food insecurity and disasters that require the attention and unity of focused leaders to come up with mitigation measures and effective solutions.
Boga unsuccessfully vied for Kwale governor in the last election, losing to Fatuma Achani. He is currently the vice president in charge of programme delivery at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra).
"Africans are not yet food secure. Poverty and diseases are wreaking havoc daily, which calls for a collective contribution of insights by bringing everyone on board to solve the problems," he said.
Boga spoke at Dokata village in Samburu during the homecoming party for Mackinnon ward MCA Mwanyae Mwagawari.
The professor said politics is over and it is time for leaders to work as one and ensure the interests of ordinary citizens are well served and fast-track development.
He said one-and-half years have already gone, and leaders must stay determined to take advantage of the remaining years to concentrate on agendas and fulfil their promises to uplift the lives of the locals.
He said the most important thing is for the leaders to lead the county on the right path without considering their different political affiliations.
Boga urged the elected politicians to be attentive and have a listening ear to people's grievances to move the county's development forward.
"I pray to God that you listen to your citizens and stay unified as you are for the sake of the electorate," he said.
The former PS also urged citizens to support elected leaders.
He said leadership is not a walk in the park and requires enormous backing for leaders to realise their development goals.
Boga said leaders are like shields and experience all sorts of challenges and without people's support they are prone to fail.
He said now is not the time to fault one another but to embrace unity and peaceful coexistence for development and a better tomorrow.
Boga said he has put politics aside and embarked on a new assignment of helping Kenyans by sharing knowledge and providing solutions to agricultural challenges.
The Agra vice president said he is ready to work with any leader in case they need his expertise at professional and personal levels in matters of agriculture.
He said as Agra they are focused on scaling agricultural innovations that help smallholder farmers towards increased incomes, better lives and improved food security.
Boga said the county can consider a partnership with Agra to help deliver a set of proven solutions to smallholder farmers as well as empowering their lives and food security.
"We work around Africa but only on invitation, so if leaders wish to work with us on certain areas, we are more than ready," he said.
