Governors rely on projects to appeal to voters

Governors in western Kenya are turning to development projects to fight for re-election as opponents intensify campaigns.

The county bosses, who unsuccessfully lobbied the Orange Democratic Movement to hand them direct tickets, are now attempting to attract voters with last-minute projects, including expansion of roads, bursary, street and floodlights among others.

Governors Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) Okoth Obado (Migori) and James Ongwae (Kisii) have been involved in rigorous campaigns in the past few weeks.

Governor Ranguma boasts of supporting more than 14,000 needy students through bursary and scholarships.

The county boss, who will face his deputy Ruth Odinga and Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o in August, has in the past month commissioned street and floodlights in several estates and markets.

Mr Ranguma says most of Kisumu County’s growth pillars have been adopted by the Lake Region Economic Bloc — consisting of 13 devolved units — and which he chairs.

Yesterday, the governor said he is confident of being re-elected.

“The people of Kisumu County will elect me because of my development programmes,” he said.

Mr Awiti is banking on the 33-kilometre Gendia-Kadongo road in Kabondo-Kasipul and Karachuonyo sub-counties, which was paved recently.

The governor yesterday said his opponents are worried because “I have achieved a lot in a very short time”.

POOR JOB
Mr Awiti will fight it out for the Homa Bay governor position with Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga.

“My development record speaks for itself,” he said.

Mr Magwanga and businessman Samuel Wakiaga say almost all the projects the county boss has started have stalled.

“The governor cannot boast of projects when we know they were used to embezzle public funds. Let him explain to residents the controversy surrounding the Gendia to Kadongo road project,” Mr Magwanga said yesterday.

Also, Mr Obado faces competition from former Energy minister and Rongo MP Ochillo Ayacko.

The governor talks of a Sh80 million scholarship scheme that he says has so far sponsored more than 600 students.

This is besides what he said was the tarmacking of the 20-kilometre Uriri-Rapogi road as well as launching streetlights and ward development funds.

Yesterday, Mr Obado said opponents were jealous of “my numerous” achievements.

“What can my opponents tell Migori County residents apart from hurling abuses at me?” he asked.

However, Ayacko accuses Mr Obado of initiating projects that have had little or no impact on locals.

“Governor Obado has disappointed residents of Migori by doing little to change their lives. He does not deserve a second term,” Mr Ayacko said.

In Siaya, Governor Rasanga said street lighting “and other programmes” would earn him a re-election.

However, his opponents have accuse him of mismanaging county funds and that his projects are not helping the general public.

Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo who wants to be Siaya governor has repeatedly accused Mr Rasanga of doing little in his first term.