We’ve never had water, electricity: Forgotten villages of Vihiga

The villages are Anamukhale (Echamiyanzo), Muginyu and Namedha (Eboya).

Residents decry being ignored by the political class.

"We are still ferrying things on the head, ferrying patients off stretchers. Still fetching water with calabash, and yet we call ourselves Kenyans," Elon Mwangale said.

He said it's embarrassing that since 1963, when the country got Independence, they are still living a "colonial life".

The area is sandwiched between Kisumu West constituency and Luanda constituency on the border of Kisumu and Vihiga counties. 

Residents say their efforts to reach the national government through the area MP Ernest Kagesi and the county government via the area MCA Albert Mugata have been unsuccessful.

Mwangale said they have been struggling to get basic needs, such as health services, water, electricity and transport.

"Most leaders tour our area with promises but after voting them in, none turns up to fulfil their political pledges," he said.

Mwangale says the three villages have been subjected to poverty due to poor political goodwill among leaders.

He said when Kenya attained its Independence in 1963, it was a big relief to many Kenyans as they believed in their own freedom.

"By then I was a young man. We believed the whites had oppressed us but that wasn't the case. We are even worse off now than then," he said.

The first President of the republic, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, said his mission was to fight ignorance, poverty and disease.

Back then, the nation was to focus on education, road network and health.

"It's so weird that in the current century, we still have no water, no power, no roads," Mwangale said.

"As a community, we have written several times to the MP's office, but there is no response. Same with the governor's office," he said.

Mwangale says they have been left with no option but to keep carrying people on stretchers all the time to Musunguti dispensary or the Enaginga health centre.

He said even the stretcher that the three villages are currently using was donated to them by a well-wisher after seeing the challenges they were going through.

We believed the whites had oppressed us but that wasn't the case. We are even worse off now than then

DEVOLUTION MIRAGE

Bramwel Bera says at the age of 60 now, he is yet to see any road, electricity or piped water crossing the three villages.

Despite the area being a major source of water that is tapped to other areas in the constituency via the county, they have been left out in water projects, he said.

Other areas in the county have enjoyed the fruits of devolution for the last 10 years and will keep doing so, he said, whereas their villages are yet to taste the sweetness of that devolution.

"As any other village in Kenya, we celebrated the 2010 constitution that was promulgated by the late President Mwai Kibaki, which supported devolution," Bera said.

"In this devolution under the devolved governments, we had hopes that we shall be getting services close to and within the counties," he said.

Bera says their hopes were dashed as the county governments they expected to serve them instead ignored them.

"The health facility at Musunguti, where we go, was the initiative of the former MP Yusuf Chanzu. And the road to that area was through former Governor Moses Akaranga," Bera said.

"We are always told we have extension officers who offer services in our area, but we haven't seen any. But when you visit the county offices, you will see documents indicating that they have reached our areas."

"The fact is we are only used as a voting tool but when it comes to development, we are not counted," he added.

We are always told we have extension officers who offer services in our area, but we haven't seen any. But when you visit the county offices, you will see documents indicating that they have reached our areas

WHAT LEADERS SAY

Area MCA Albert Mugata said he is seeking a way forward to ensure the area at least has the road to link the three villages and water as well.

“It's unfair that in the current generation, we have villages with no water or roads, yet devolution is here to ensure all people enjoy their taxes,” he told the Star on the phone on Tuesday.

“Currently I am only seven months in office. What I can promise is when it comes to the 2024-25 financial year, we shall capture all that in the CIDP (County Integrated Development Plan) to ensure the area has water and the road.” 

Mugata said on issues to do with electricity, residents should consult the area MP, Ernest Kagesi.

The MP could not be reached for comment, but his personal assistant Gregory Tiego said the MP has already mapped all the areas that are in need of electricity.

“What we are waiting for is Kenya Power and the Lighting Company to get its budget, so that we can run the power in those three villages,” Tiego said.

He said they have been engaging with KPLC over the issue.

“The MP wants by 2027, Vihiga constituency to be fully supplied with electricity and sober road networks through the help of the county government,” Tiego said.

However, Bramwel Bera said there is no form of development that can go on in those three villages due to the insecurity they are facing.

“Robbery with violence and home breakages dominate the three villages in Musunguti, but we have no one to help us face this mess,” he said.

He added that they are unable to call for help in case of insecurity.

"We can't call for help when there is need because we have no roads to access our villages at all," Bera said.

"If you are attacked in the house, no one will come to your rescue, no matter who you call. Security agents can only make up for Musunguti, but inside this village is another story."

The area is only surrounded by footpaths, even an ordinary bicycle can't make it through, he said.

This leaves the locals either walking or ferrying patients on homemade stretchers.