Kakamega governor hopeful Fernandes Barasa has said he is ready to face his opponents.
He spoke on Wednesday, a few hours after Deputy President William Ruto brokered a deal between Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and former Senator Boni Khalwale.
In the deal, Khalwale dropped out of the Kakamega governor's race in favour of Malala.
Khalwale will instead go for the senatorial position while supporting Malala for the top county job.
Khalwale, popularly referred to as the Bullfighter, had been eyeing the seat on the UDA ticket, while Malala was expected to seek an ANC ticket.
Both UDA and ANC are in the Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Barasa, a former Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Ketraco) CEO, is seeking the seat on the ODM ticket. He exuded confidence that he will win on August 9.
“I was ready to battle it out with Khalwale but I have heard that he is now running for the Senate seat. I'm well-prepared to tackle any opponent, be it Malala or Deputy Governor Philip Kutima," Barasa said in Ikolomani.
"I'm ready because ODM is a popular party and we shall definitely emerge winners as we take Raila Odinga to State House.”
Barasa said if elected, his administration will put God first by conducting monthly prayers under an office that will be created for the county chaplain.
On health and sanitation, he pledged to put up level 4 hospitals in each of the 12 subcounties of Kakamega county.
“We are going to equip these hospitals with the right facilities and enough medicine so that our people can access proper and affordable health services,” Barasa said.
He will also prioritise water supply and connect as many households as possible across the county.
“If we have enough water reservoirs here, we will improve agriculture because our farmers will have enough water even during the dry season,” Barasa said.
He said he will put more emphasis on education and set aside funds for bursaries.
The aspirant said through his Barasa Foundation he has helped improve the lives of the youth by purchasing motorbikes for them.
He said he has also donated wheelchairs and crutches, build several houses for the widows and held free eye medical camps in the county.
Others seeking to succeed Governor Wycliffe Oparanya are Lugari MP Ayub Savula, Samuel Omukoko and Cyrus Jirongo of UDP. Kutima and Savula are seeking the DAP-K ticket.
Edited by A.N
