By Reuben Olita
Busia First Lady, Celine Otuoma has challenged elected leaders to work with Governor, H.E Dr Paul Otuoma who was duly elected to deliver the county from the bondage of poverty and other ills.
In her condolence message during the burial mass of Master Casey Oucha, 23, at Bunandi Primary School grounds in Samia Sub County, the First Lady said many officers have been given opportunities to discharge their duties, urging them to make a difference in the county.
“Busia is our home, We can change it. God has given chance through the Governor for us to prosper. Let’s humble ourselves and work tirelessly,” she said noting that blames and counter-blames will not help the Governor’s bid for a better Busia.
She added: “Let’s make a difference in Busia. I do my business in Kisumu, we can change Busia for the better if we work tirelessly.
The Governor in his rejoinder said county residents elected us in August, 2022 and wondered where the scorecard is almost one year of his administration, noting that people need deliverables, people want solutions and not excuses.
“We need food on the table, we need security, adequate infrastructure and employment for our youths. Very soon I will hold each other to account. We need to up our game in revenue collection and performance of each department, ” he said.
The Governor went on:” Busia has the potential than other counties. Trade department should embark on having a Sacco in each ward with 1000 members that will translate into 35,000 people. This will boost the economy of the county as they will be encouraged to embark on oil related products like groundnuts, simsim and soya beans.”
He noted that his administration will avail markets for farmers products, Industrial Park and Export Processing Zone.
He revealed that his Government will on Tuesday advertise the construction of an Industrial Park. Another advert on the construction of an Export Processing Zone will appear in mainstream media on May 26th, 2023 which upon completion will create over 5000 jobs, urging county residents to avail the products.
“Nobody will come and feed us. We must work. Bunyala must produce more rice than Mwea if we have to break-even,” he said, thus the need for county residents to embark on agriculture to reap from value addition.
Former Cabinet Minister, Hon Fred Gumo concurred with the First Lady’s sentiments that those appointed by the Governor in various positions must work and not engage in empty rhetorics.
“Busia is now a clean town. People were putting up their structures on tarmac road which is reserved for pedestrians and vehicles. He also urged Busia residents to make use of available markets instead of selling their wares in front of shops and on streets,” he said.
He added: ” Go to Eldoret, you will not find illegal structures in the streets, let’s support the Governor by promoting our markets and organizing the Central Business District.
The former Westlands MP took issue with the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) which he said had outlived its usefulness and likened it to an elephant which destroys everything that it comes across, urging the National Government to give counties powers to procure drugs independently instead of through KEMSA.
