Five Turkana MPs boycott cultural fete

Turkana women from Kapua entertain guests during the second edition of the Tobong'u Lore Cultural and Tourism Festival at Ekalees Centre in Turkana County on Saturday. [Photo: Peter Ochieng/Standard]

Five Members of Parliament from Turkana County made good their threat not to attend the three-day Tobong’u Lore Tourism and Cultural Festival.

James Lomenen (Turkana South), Nicholas Ngikor (Turkana East), Protus Akuja (Loima), Christopher Nakuleu (Turkana North), Daniel Nanok (Turkana West) were conspicuously missing at the event attended by high profile leaders, including Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni.

Only Turkana Central MP John Lodepe attended the fete, which ran between August 27 and 30.

The legislators had said the fete was a waste of time and resources and would not address the issues locals face.

Lomenen said the county needs to prioritise provision of basic amenities to its people before channelling resources to such luxury activities.

“I was disheartened when I moved around the county and saw the kind of life our people are leading. They are emaciated because of lack of food and water, with healthcare remaining a mirage. To make matters worse, the money meant to alleviate the dire situation has been directed to festivals,” he said.

The legislator said the event is geared towards establishing a political ground by some leaders. He said the county government ought to have first evaluated the inaugural festival before allocating millions of shillings to hold another one.

Mr Akuja said they were not consulted in the organisation of the festival, adding that they sensed foul in the dealing thus it was wise for them to stay away from the event.

“We get the second highest allocation from Treasury but the standards of living of our people are getting worse by the day. Where is this money taken to?” he asked.

Akuja said it was time for the county to set its priorities right and be accountable to the electorate.

In the run-up to the fete, shortage of hospitality facilities in Lodwar was expected to pose a challenge  as Turkana County prepared to host hundreds of people.

Tourism Chief Officer Mathew Logurale said the guest houses in the town were not enough to accommodate the huge number of visitors they expected to attend the fete.