Leaders in Teso North have agreed to push for the split of the subcounty into two.
Led by Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, on Friday they unanimously agreed that the subcounty be divided to create a new administrative area.
In attendance at the meeting were MCAs Bernard Papa (Malaba Central), Patrick Omanyala (Malaba North), David Kokonya (Malaba South), Job Oteba (Ang’urai East), Grace Olita (Ang’urai South) and their nominated counterparts Nancy Okademi and Angela Nafula.
The leaders argued that the subcounty, which currently has four divisions, be split to ensure key services especially from the national government are drawn closer to residents.
They said areas in the current Teso North subcounty including Changara, Kolanya, Chamasiri, Duka Moja, Ang’aro and Kakemer and other zones in Ang’urai division are too far for the natives to easily access services in Amagoro.
Amagoro is presently the Teso North headquarters.
The subcounty currently has four divisions – Ang’urai and Amagoro as well as newly created Kamolo and Chang’ara.
Chang’ara and Kamolo are yet to receive assistant county commissioners.
The national government is building offices for the assistant county commissioners in the two divisions.
The stormy meeting almost prematurely ended after residents of Kamolo protested at what they termed as a push by some local leaders to move Kamolo division headquarters from their area to Kiriko.
Clerics in attendance led by ACK Katakwa bishop John Okude had to intervene to restore order at the meeting that lasted for approximately two hours at the Malaba municipal council offices along the Malaba-Bungoma highway.
“We are about 160,000 people exerting so much pressure at the subcounty offices in Amagoro, contributing to delays in service delivery while at the same time citizens coming from as far as Chang’ara suffer the high cost of travel for government services,” Kaunya said in a speech read on his behalf by Teso North constituency manager Ronald Ochalu.
“I urge leaders to support the proposal for the creation of a new subcounty so that we have Ang’urai and Amagoro subcounties. This will promote social-economic development and security at the border points, as residents enjoy more government resources.”
A section of leaders, however, proposed renaming of the two subcounties, in case the proposed split succeeds, to Teso North and Teso Central.
The recommendations arrived at during the meeting are expected to be forwarded to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i for consideration.
Leaders in attendance agreed that there will be enhanced government services with the creation of a new subcounty.
The establishment of a new deputy county commissioner’s office, they said, will come with the creation of new security installation which will improve the security of the area.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Teso North Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry secretary Quinto Papa, local Knut and Kuppet representatives, members of the clergy, officials from the county government led by roads chief executive George Okwara and retired civil servants from the subcounty.
