By Seliphar Musungu, Kakamega
Former KETRACO boss Fernandez Barasa was today, September 15 2022 at 11am sworn in as the second governor of Kakamega County.
This is after Fernandes Barasa was declared the winner of the gubernatorial position Kakamega County by the IEBC chair Joseph Ayata after garnering 192,929 votes against his close competitor Cleophas Malala of ANC who garnered 159,508 votes in an election held two weeks ago.
Together with his deputy governor Ayub Savula, they took an oath of office which was presided by Judge Dora Chepkwony and promised to work with all Kakamega residents and other leaders no matter the coalition and political opinions.
Barasa and his Deputy Ayub Savula holding certificates after taking oath “As the incoming government my administration tends to work on the following agendas like health, water, agriculture, education, industrial and infrastructure in order to make the life of every Kakamega resident's lives more comfortable.” Barasa said.
Speaking after taking the oath at Bukhungu stadium Fernandes said that his administration will major in uprooting all the cartels at the Kakamega general hospital that have made it difficult for citizens to provide excess quality services.
“In the health sector my administration will implement the health act 2022 by coming up with the facility improvement fund in level 4 and level 5 hospitals. This way we shall ensure efficient supply of drugs and register all secondary school students to Edu afya.” Said Barasa
In Education Barasa said that his administration will create a conducive environment for all students and teachers. He also said that he will spear head the increment of salary of the ECD teachers and county polytechnic teachers.
Barasa said his administration will ensure growth of Kakamega town in order to attract more investors and increase wealth creation to reduce poverty.
“My administration will ensure economic and employment opportunities for all Kakamega residents to reduce poverty. Also it will ensure that there is enough water supply to all residents.” Barasa said
On the other side his deputy Ayub Savula speaking in the same event promised to work closely with Barasa for the development of the county.
“It is time to ditch politics and concentrate on serving Kakamega residents.” Said Savula
In his remarks while officially handing over the instruments of power to the new Governor, the outgoing Governor Wycliffe Oparanya thanked residents of Kakamega County for supporting his regime for the past 10 years as the first Governor of Kakamega and urged them to accord the same support to the incoming regime of Fernandez Barasa and his deputy Ayub Savula.
Barasa takes over the office when experiencing leadership conflicts with his deputy Ayub Savula where Savula wants the leadership of the county to be divided in half.
Among the leaders who attended the event were former Kitui governor Charity Ngilu, CS Eugine Wamalwa, and former Bungoma governor Wyclifee Wangamati among others.
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