By Collins Matubwi
Kakamega
Paul Musungu Makokha was born and raised in Makunga, Mumias East Constituency in Kakamega County.
Mr. Makokha is a devoted husband and father of four children. His desire is to bring a paradigm shift in the leadership of Mumias East that has failed to address the challenges facing the electorates.
Makokha who hails from the Wanga Kingdom is slowly gaining a huge following in the constituency after he declared his interest to unseat the former National Assembly Chief Whip Benjamin Washiali.
Many of the constituents want fresh blood and are placing their bet on Makokha to replace Washiali who has been in power since 2007.
The youthful politician who is known to many as ‘Wakili Paul’ is defying all odds by casting his net in the water, which is a haven of political sharks like Washiali and David Wamatsi
Makokha is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Certified Secretary of Kenya , a Certified Governance Auditor of Kenya and a Certified Professional Mediator and accredited by the Kenyan Judiciary.
He is an experienced Corporate Governance Advisor for both private and public institutions and has extensive experience in both Community and Commercial Institutions and does a lot Philanthropic work.
Mr. Makokha is a devoted husband and father of four children. His desire is to bring a paradigm shift in the leadership of Mumias East that has failed to address the challenges facing the electorates.
“I began societal initiatives at a very tender age, supporting churches in fund drives and community empowerment initiatives. I have held various leadership positions from primary, secondary, university and community based organisations,” said Makokha.
During the interview with County Splash, I was curious to know the secret behind his confidence to face out the experienced and renowned politicians eyeing for the same seat.
“Mine is a sacred idea to improve lives and bring transformation to the constituency. I’m confident no one will change this idea whose time has come. What the renowned politicians have failed to do is what I’ve come to do,” said the soft spoken lawyer.
Wakili Paul , the son of the late Henry Makokha Bwirima and the late Evangelist Rosebellah Aswani Makokha said his strong Christian background has manufactured out of him a disciplined personality engaged in both church and community service alongside his professional work.
He has dealt extensively with children training and youth mentorship which he regards as a way of giving back to the community and building a responsive generation.
Makokha Currently serves as the Chairman of Lubinu Boys Alumni and also sits on the advisory body of Makunga Primary School Old Pupils Association.
“I urge the electorates to exercise their democratic right to vote and put in place the appropriate leadership to steer economic growth of the constituency,” said Makokha.
As one of the constituencies under the Mumias sugar zone, Mumias East constituency has been adversely affected by the collapse of Mumias Sugar Company that was a source of livelihood to many.
The collapse of the sugar miller spelt doom to business entities that depended on the Mumias Sugar which saw hundreds of people rendered jobless and cane farmers miss out on the sweet aroma that Mumias Sugar was churning out from its chimneys.
“The farmers elsewhere benefit from their labour and are economically empowered courtesy of the advocacy done by their leaders. Regrettably, the leaders of our region and larger Western, continue to concentrate on drum bits of rhetoric politics while their people languish in poverty,” said Makokha .
He added : “I urge the electorates to exercise their democratic right to vote and put in place the appropriate leadership to steer economic growth of the constituency,”
According to Makokha , there’s need to bring hope to the cane farmers and re-establish the sugar Miller in the long run but he is also better placed to guide the constituents to other alternatives for economic empowerment by exploring other products like cassava, potatoes and yams amongst others for commercial rather than subsistence purposes.
For instance, cassava is a very potential raw material for production of refined ethanol, beer and sanitizers that he has purposed to do in his leadership by investing heavily in manufacturing and value addition.
This is possible by looking for investors both foreign and local to invest in the constituency.
Furthermore, he says the region is doing well in maize farming and thus the need for industries like a maize milling plant, saying farmers can wreck in good money when they sell their agricultural produce after undergoing value addition.
The aspirant said that the state of Mumias East constituency characterized with low living standards of the locals, saying once he takes leadership, he will give priority to quality education, training and economic empowerment activities.
Makokha intends to transform Mumias East into a model constituency by spearheading establishment of cottage and value addition industries to promote alternative products, establishing and enhancing schools and training institutions to international standards capable of producing high caliber graduates who can compete globally, advocate and spearhead best governance practices in the management of CDF and other government allocated resources.
Mumias East 2022 MP aspirant : Paul Makokha
According to Mr Makokha, the success of Mumias East constituency is beyond CDF kitty and other Government provided financing but rather there’s need for a determined link with both local, national and international investors and donors to help roll out community development projects.
Ends
