By Reuben Olita
Malaba Municipality risks losing Ksh400 million funding from the World Bank if Busia Governor H.E Dr Paul Otuoma will fail to address issues raised by the stakeholders.
Addressing the press after a meeting convened to iron out burning issues that are threatening to tear the Municipality asunder, Lok’Etyang noted that it will not be business as usual this time round.
“Personally, I will ensure the funding from the Britonwood institution is blocked because if the little we get, we don’t reap any benefits since the bulk of it goes to peoples pockets,” he noted.
Okoit added: ” The county leadership should accept to meet his team for a round table discussion to chat the way forward, then only we shall sanction the release of the funds.”
The community advocate admitted that he was one of those who went to court concerning the municipality because of the inaugural governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s “arrogance.”
” We won the case, and the court gave direction over what to be done about the management of the municipality and elected board of directors,” Okoit stated.
He went on:” We were not against the current municipality manager Mr Francis Asoyong, but we gave him the benefit of doubt up to now. What has happened has not pleased the community, and the youth had vowed to stage demonstrations and close the manager’s office.
However, Okoit said he intervened and told them to hold their horses as he planned to bring all parties on board to chat the way forward in resolving the matter.
” We came here after getting assurance from the municipality board and the manager that the meeting will not succeed. It was also rumoured that the area MCA also asserted that the meeting would not succeed, but it indeed succeeded, and we got the way forward,” he said.
Okoit said the youths have vowed that their demonstrations will continue, noting that he is not against it so long as it’s peaceful, and as long as its peaceful and they can be heard by the governor or the powers that be.
In a quick rejoinder, the Board chairman Mr Julius Ekwenye thanked Okoit Lok’Etyang for promoting public participation, noting that it’s very vital everywhere for better service delivery and accountability.
In a telephone interview, Mr Ekwenye said as a chairman, I encourage public participation in all matters of the municipality,but it must be within the confines of the law; one needs to read the Kenya consitution 2010, particularly on how the Citizen fora functions.
” For the two years, we have done our best to implement over 100 requirements the World Bank demanded in order to facilitate the funds release. Attempts to block such funding will derail the two-year efforts to meet WB nod to include Busia County in the funding programme among 60 municipalities, with 20 failing to meet the threshold,” Ekwenye said.
Stakeholders chairman Osikol Ekakoro said he will ensure truth and equity in management of the municipality, noting that the first task was to compile grievances to be presented to the Governor.
He noted that among the grievances, they will table before the governor include the need to secure jobs for the youth, arbitrary increases in taxation, and alleged corruption.
Okoit Lok’Etyang (left ) and Osikol Ekakoro.
