ODM fires back critics that mega projects in Nyanza are tokenism
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has fired back critics that the multi-billion shillings projects for Nyanza is a Kisumu County affair.
According to the Orange party chief, Director of Communications Philip Etale, the remarks by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah and Lugari MP Ayub Savula are wild and false.
The party defended claims that Raila Odinga had turned his back on Western despite the region having voted for him overwhelmingly over the years.
“These are wild allegations in the sense that there is not one iota of truth in what the duo said,” he said.
The two leaders had questioned why the government was launching many projects in the Nyanza region and not a single one in the Western region.
He urged Kenyans, particularly the people of the Western region to treat such remarks as groundless only aimed at seeking cheap political mileage.
Etale said the projects in question have been undertaken by the national government and will benefit western counties.
According to Etale, the revamped meter gauge railway for example, would snake into Butere, Kakamega county while another line would run from Nakuru to Uasin Gishu, to supplement another one that would cut across Bungoma and Busia counties.
“The Kisumu Port is not a local project, it is both regional and national. It suffices to note that just like the Kilindini Port in Mombasa, employees at this Port are drawn from different parts of the country, the Western Kenya region included. Kisumu has been and continues to be a Regional Hub since the colonial days. It is so because of its proximity to Lake Victoria. If Kakamega town and not Kisumu were near Lake Victoria, it would have been made the regional hub,” he added.
The party cited the launch of several flagship projects in Western region last year ahead of the Mashujaa day fete held in Kakamega which did not attract similar attention.
“October 2019, Mashujaa Day celebrations were held in Kakamega County at Bukhungu stadium, and the Western region did not attract attention. It is worth noting that, prior to the celebrations in Kakamega, the President held a consultative meeting with all elected and political party leaders from the region where a number of issues were discussed. Additionally, water projects and roads were launched during that time, nobody complained,” cited Etale.
Through his spokesman Denis Onyango, Raila also fired back at critics of the Madaraka Day goodies delivered to Nyanza, terming such talk retrogressive, divisive and dishonest.
“Odinga finds such talk retrogressive, divisive, dishonest and against the spirit of building one prosperous nation out of its diverse nationalities and regions,” read part of the statement.
He appealed to leaders to enable and allow Kenyans to imagine an ideal future and hold big dreams for their country instead of standing in their way
He downplayed the ‘handshake projects tag’ maintaining the projects are meant to make Kisumu city a regional economic hub and expand trade across the East Africa region.
