In Summary;
- Roads
- Airstrips
- Energy
- Housing
DEBUNKING THE MYTH THAT GOVERNOR WANGAMATI HAS A DEVELOPMENT TRACK RECORD TO DELIVER UNWAVERING VICTORY FOR HIS SECOND TERM IN 2022.
PART 1: INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
This is the first part in a series of impartial spotlights that will be followed by benchmarking highlights across best practices of devolved systems; where we’ll justify and illuminate the facts that will set the record straight that Governor Wangamati has indeed failed to deliver his mandates, gauging by his unfulfilled pledges 11months to the general election in 2022.
Governor Wangamati’s campaign messaging in 2017, just like Ronald Reagan, who was elected as the USA President in 1980, preached economic freedom and emphasized the fact that governance was “the problem” and must be fixed; but apparently the alumni of Kibabii High School and former Director of the spinned-off Alexander Forbes Pension fund that i used to be a member, has now shifted gears and is wallowing in opulence and sipping vintage wines at the expense of the plight of our people.
The people of Bungoma should not sit back and waiver, but must rise up and demand accountability from Governor Wangamati, based on the following pledges that he set out in his Development plan for the first term 2018-2022.
A). ROADS
In the 5years term ending 2022, Bungoma County Government under Governor Wangamati leadership, pledged to upgrade 250kms of road networks to Bitumen standards, by adopting the network approach to road construction that links key community installations to Businesses in major transport corridors.
Under the first 5years of Governor Wangamati tenure, the County road design and infrastructure was to also cover construction of abolition blocks for travelers, cyclists lanes, overhead bridges in busy junctions, construction of parking bays and roadside amenities for small traders.
Through Governor Wangamati, this infrastructure projects were to provide capacity development for local contractors, direct employment of local youths, improved safety of residents and faster market linkages for farmers to markets.
More specifically, during the first 5years, Governor Wangamati’s administration was to upgrade the following roads and infrastructure:
In collaboration with the national government, dualing of Musikoma-Kanduyi road(6km), using national government resources.
Upgrade of Chepkube-Cheptais-Chesikaki-Sirisia-Butonge-Malakisi-Kimaeti-Myanga-Mateka road(68km).
Upgrade of Musese-Kabuchai-Nalondo-Mabanga-Ekitale-Sang’alo-Namwacha-Bulondo-River Khalaba-Kabula road(56km).
Upgrade of Mkulima-Nasusi-Chesamisi-Maliki Area1-Bunambo-Ndalu Market road(59km).
Construction of overhead footbridges at Chepkube market, Kanduyi junction and Kibabii University.
VERDICT: FAIR ATTEMPT BUT UNSATISFACTORY ❗️
B). AIRSTRIPS
Governor Wangamati pledged to convert Bungoma town airstrip into a recreational park or a Small and Medium Enterprises(SME) park.
Similarly, the Governor also pledged to work with the intergovernmental relations committee, in which former Kanduyi MP and his competitor in the 2017 gubernatorial contest Hon.Alfred Khang’ati is currently a serving member, to expand and upgrade Matulo airstrip at Webuye into an Airport; this must have collapsed with the visit of Somali tourists, disguised as investors.
VERDICT: FAILED❌
C). ENERGY
In collaboration with Members of parliament and Rural electrification authority, Governor Wangamati pledged to expand rural electricity connectivity to all corners of Bungoma County by 2022.
Governor Wangamati also pledged to expand clean cooking energy access to 85% residents that use charcoal and firewood and implement comprehensive rural-solar energy initiatives, that are aimed at providing affordable green energy to 67% off-grid families across Bungoma County.
THERE IS COMMENDABLE PROGRESS DRIVEN BY RESPECTIVE MP’s TO ACHIEVE COUNTY ENERGY OBJECTIVES, BUT OVERALL THE GOVERNOR HAS FAILED❌
D). HOUSING
At the time of Governor Wangamati’s election in 2017, the Kenya National Bureau of Standards highlighted that Bungoma County had 83% of it’s residents living in houses with mud walls, while 79% had earth floors and 19% had grass thatched houses; Governor Wangamati pledged to change this and have majority of Bungoma residents living in stone/brick and corrugated iron sheets roofs by the end of his first 5years tenure in 2022.
Governor Wangamati pledged to develop a County housing strategy and provide financial and non-financial incentives to the private sector to build affordable houses; the incentives he promised included provision of land to developers, access to affordable financing and reforms of land related laws.
THERE IS COMMENDABLE PROGRESS DRIVEN BY RESPECTIVE MP’s TO ACHIEVE COUNTY HOUSING OBJECTIVES, notably the MP for KIMILILI, BUT OVERALL THE GOVERNOR HAS FAILED❌
~ Noah Kakai, Champion of Entrepreneurial Governance ~
