Politicians for hire hindering economic development

Kakamega County governor Wycliffe Oparanya has bemoaned politics of seeking self-interests, supremacy wars among leaders and politicians for hire as the main hindrance to economic development and political unity among Luhya Community.

This comes even as the calls for all political leaders in the community to form one party and unite under one political leader in preparation for 2017 general elections have been rekindled.

Oparanya said despite the community being second populous in the country, high poverty levels due to political rivalry and supremacy wars among leaders, have failed to empower residents in the region.

“No matter how much we call for unity and working as a team, our people will never be united if they cannot afford basic human needs. How do you expect people to come out and rally behind one of their own if they can’t afford a meal a day?” Oparanya wondered.

Oparanya asked all leaders in the region to strive toward empowering the community economically before forging ahead with their political unity.

He observed that if the residents of the region will become self-reliant and economically endowed, unity will be inevitable.

“Let us first tackle high levels of poverty and unity will be realized automatically. An empowered nation is an informed nation and instead of preaching political unity every day we should be advocating for job creation and financially supporting people to invest and establish businesses,” Oparanya observed.
He said all the governors from the region (from Busia, Kakamega, Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia and Vihiga counties) have pledged to contribute Sh1 billion towards establishment of a micro-finance whose ownership will be a Luhya-based in order to address low investment levels in the region and reduce high poverty levels.

Oparanya accused most political leaders of hypocrisy and fighting each other instead yet still advocating for unity.

 He explained that division and supremacy war against each other have led to region’s low economic development.

“This Luhya unity campaign is going nowhere. We always work to bring each other down and you cannot work with someone you don’t trust,” Oparanya said and observed that the community will never attain the country’s top leadership if leaders will not stop undermining others.

“We put our own interest above that of the community. If leaders will not stop self-seeking politics, back stabbing and politics of betrayal, we will never produce a national leader.”

Oparanya was addressing a congregation at Pentecostal Evangelism Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) church in Shinyalu constituency Sunday.

The governor alleged that most Luhya politicians are hired to oppose, demean and scuttle development projects in the region by interested parties outside the region.

He maintained that the only way the community can work together is when all leaders will decide to be honest, be supportive of others and work with a purpose.

“Most of this leaders are hired by people who do not want to see us working together as a community. They will oppose, spread negative propaganda and do anything to ensure they divide us. Only Kijana Wamalwa could have succeeded uniting the community but the calls for unity will remain a dream,” said Oparanya.

Over the weekend, Federal Party of Kenya leader Cyrus Jirongo speaking in Kanduyi constituency during the burial of the father of the former assistant minister in the office of the Prime Minister Alfred Khang’ati, called for Luhya leaders to forge unity and support one of their won in 2017 general elections.

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