Let State change Kibera, MP Ken Okoth tells critics

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Kibra MP, under whose constituency the Kibera slums fall, yesterday came out against what he called “negative attacks” on the Government’s clean-up project in the slums.

Ken Okoth told unnamed critics off for trying to show the people of Kibera as resisting work by the National Youth Service (NYS) and the area’s youth.

He said President Uhuru Kenyatta and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru had a duty to develop all regions.

“Cowardly leaders with no shame go out there and attack the Government. The people of Kibra pay taxes and have a right to development projects. They are too smart to reject development,” the MP said at a news conference in Parliament buildings Wednesday.

Mr Okoth said the NYS project had employed 4,000 residents from the area to build roads, clean up the sewage system, build toilets and instal security lights.

“These people are engaged in active employment. It is a good thing that want extended from three months to a full year,” he said.