Bungoma County spent Madaraka Day celebrations' funds diligently

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka. [File, Standard]

There have been complaints by civil society groups in the last few days claiming that Bungoma County Government spent Sh148 million to host Madaraka Day celebrations, an event that should be funded by the national government.

The funds allocated for what many consider the most outstanding Madaraka Day celebrations ever, were specifically earmarked for purposes of lifting the county’s standing and were used for that purpose. No other essential services were compromised. The plan and its funding were all cleared by the County Assembly of Bungoma.

The people of Bungoma reaped many benefits days before the event and after. First, hosting Madaraka Day was a game-changer. In the two days President William Ruto was in the county, he launched projects, which included an immigration office. This will speed up the process of clearing businesses between Uganda and Kenya. 

There is also the Kapkara dam in Sirisia that has been a relic of colonial times. This dam will provide lifetime benefit to nearly 50,000 residents of North Malakisi. The President also commissioned a vocational training institute in Webuye West and the upgrading of junction 779 Mayanja- Bisunu-Sirisia to bitumen standard.

These projects will have more benefits to the 1.7 million people of Bungoma in the long run than what the Sh148 million could do based on what civil society working with local politicians think. They have heaped blame on the county leadership spreading half-truths and outright falsehoods. The greatest falsehood was the claim that we spent Sh25 million on flowers alone. The amount was set aside for purposes of presenting a positive image of Bungoma during the celebrations.

The term ‘beautification’ is misinterpreted, as it encompasses a range of activities beyond just the purchase of flowers. Indeed, Sh25 million was allocated by the County Assembly for the comprehensive beautification works. Part of the money was used for ‘planting of ornamental trees, flowers, and grass along the seven-kilometre dual carriageway from Kanduyi to Musikoma. Soil excavation and clearing of clogged drainage in the town were done to improve urban sanitation and infrastructure.

The contract included construction of dwarf walls and other structures along the dual carriageway to enhance aesthetic appeal and functionality. Metallic sculptures were also erected as part of the beautification efforts. Part of the money was used for the fabrication of dustbins that were strategically placed in the town to facilitate easier and efficient garbage collection.

We cannot attract investment when we allow our county headquarters to look bad. You cannot, today, do business with Kenyans if you are shy of raising your own standards, including having a neat and organised town. We, the government of Bungoma are working at lifting these standards to align with Kenya’s four cities Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru. The projects we executed were all part of the comprehensive plan detailed in the Bill of Quantities in the tender. The works are yet to be inspected and certified for payment. Once that is done, the documents will be availed for public consumption.

As I have indicated, such activities boost local businesses, including florists and decorators, thereby stimulating the county’s economy. On the issue of prioritisation of funds, I want to assure the public that my administration is committed to addressing the county’s pressing issues. We are working tirelessly to improve healthcare, education and infrastructure.

When we planned the celebrations, we deliberately sought to showcase the artistic wealth of the county. In my studies in world political history and thereafter serving as an administrator where you observe people as they build themselves, sometimes settling disputes among them, I have come to learn that a society wins based on the creativity of its people. That, indeed, is the story of America, India and Brazil today. The knack to appreciate the creativity of a people and to let individuals and sections of society be imaginative in all spheres of human life is what causes one group to run ahead of others.

That is why we roped in the county’s artists; musicians, and poets and worked hard to refurbish Masinde Muliro Stadium completing it in under 60 days. Today, Kenyans have developed a different view of Bungoma after the most successful event.

-Kenneth Lusaka is the Bungoma Governor