Kisumu MCA aspirants get free platform to woo voters

A Kisumu-based civil society group has launched a platform for aspirants to sell their policies to the electorate ahead of the August 9 polls.

The initiative by 2x Empower, a non-governmental organisation, gives those eyeing MCA seats a platform to set forth their agenda in front of  the electorate.

The group teamed up with like-minded friends and organisations to set  the public ward debates with the first one held at Nyalenda B ward in Kisumu Central subcounty.

Nyalenda B MCA Joseph Olale and former area ward representative James Were attended the debate, which saw them face the public with their manifestos and respond to questions. 

Were wants to recapture the seat. Other aspirants included Sammy Boy, Emmanuel Opiyo and Eunice Ogada. All pledged to fully exercise legislation, representation and oversight roles if elected.

The 2x Empower team dismissed claims by Olale that the forum was meant to discredit Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o terming the allegations false and baseless.

Earlier, there was drama when Olale stormed out amid heckles from the public following his claims.

Residents accused him of doing little after electing him and vowed to vote him out of office in the upcoming elections.

They said Olale has no development track record  and has abdicated his responsibilities as the MCAs.

"You have been reduced to a praise and worship team of the governor. You've done nothing. We will send you home," one youth shouted. 

But Olale had earlier defended his track record saying that he has initiated various projects in the ward.

The convener Jared Okoth said county assemblies are critical structures of government that  are pivotal to the successes of devolution, hence the need for electorates to make wise choices at the ballot.

"This is where policies and pieces of legislation are formulated that would in the end spur changes in terms of development," Okoth said.

He said the 2X Empower has created the platform for electorates to engage with aspirants and interrogate their campaign manifestos ahead of the polls.

"We are doing the 10th year of devolution but there is still very little to show for the billions of exchequer funds channeled to counties," Okoth said.

He said most of the county assemblies have not committed to prudent use of public money thereby stagnating development.

Okoth said that voters have previously cast ballots for individuals they have no background information on, either because of party politics or euphoria.

"We intend to correct this by creating safe spaces for electorates  to engage with their leaders and eventually make informed choices at the ballot," he said.

The civil society group pledged to move to all the 35 wards of Kisumu and envisaged, that through the platform, the electorates will eventually put the right individuals in leadership.

Okoth said they are aware that county governments have made efforts to initiate public participation forums in line with the constitutional requirement to enable voters have a say in the development programs.

This, he said, will only be made better by electing the right leaders, which the project strives to achieve.

Okoth said they also intend to conduct voter education alongside the programme to equip the voter with knowledge on the basic tenets of leadership.

As they prepare to go to the polls in August 2022  voters will be enlightened on the key roles of MCAs which is legislation, representation and oversight.

"We are hopeful that upon the closure of this project, electorates will be in a better place to make right choices at the ballot thus the need to know your leader," he added.

Pastor Jared Oriadha, lauded the conveners for the initiative.

"The forum will enable voters to make informed decisions while electing leaders. It will also enables them to tell leaders how best they can discharge their duties," he said.

Oriadha said the platform empowers the electorates to know their rights and elect leaders of their choice based on ideologies of candidates who will best run the assembly. 

"We saw the extreme need to engage the electorates and aspirants vying for MCAs positions. So far we have identified 620 who are eyeing the MCA seats across the county," he said.

Oriadha said they want to make the residents  understand that they have the capacity to challenge powers of the incumbents MCAs and their challengers for better services.

He announced that they will work together with IEBC for better outcomes during the elections. 

The team will visit Nyakach, Muhoroni, Nyando and Seme subcounties to empower residents so that they can vote wisely.

(Edited by Francis Wadegu)