Kisii politicians accuse Ruto's government of sidelining region

Nominated Senator Essy Okenyuri pays last respects to the late former Bonchari MP Zebedeo Opore' during his burial at Nyamiobo, Kisii county. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Kisii county leaders have accused the national government of deliberately denying the region development projects.

Speaking at the burial of former Bonchari MP Zebedeo Opore in Kisii South, the leaders criticised the Ruto administration for allegedly withdrawing funding for key projects, particularly in infrastructure.

Present at the burial were Governor Simba Arati, Senators Richard Onyonka (Kisii) and Easy Okenyuri (Nominated), Bonchari MP Charles Onchoke, other National Assembly members Stephen Mogaka (West Mugirango) and Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), along with former legislators Stephen Manoti and Pavel Oimeke. Mogaka accused the national government of halting an airport project that was set to begin in 2022.

He said the Nyamira airport, initiated by then-Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, was abandoned after the change in administration.

“We can fearlessly say that the government does not want the Gusii region to have an airport because previous efforts have ended in frustration,” Mogaka stated.

He also claimed that the national government had slashed funding for a Sh7 billion agro-industrial park in his constituency, reducing it to just Sh500 million.

“This is unacceptable, and we must voice our discontent with the government,” Mogaka said.

Governor Arati added that the national government had taken over a playing field at the Suneka Airstrip, but vowed to go to court to prevent the takeover.

Currently, the land is occupied by the Kenya National Highways Authority, which is using it as an operations yard for its machinery.

“I will ensure that our County Supplementary Budget includes the Sh25 million we intend to use to fence off the playing field, even as we battle the issue in court,” Arati said.

MPs Onchoke and Barongo called on the national government to treat all counties fairly, with Barongo saying, “We need an equal share of development projects.”

Senator Onyonka attributed the funding shortfall to a lack of unity among local leaders.

“We haven’t stood firm to defend the interests of our community. If we forge unity, then the government cannot arm-twist us,” Onyonka said.

Opore was buried on Saturday, following a Kisii court order amidst a legal dispute filed by a woman claiming to be his second wife.

The court had ordered that the body be flown from Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi on Friday and buried at his home on Saturday, after DNA samples were collected as part of the case requirements.

Opore’s burial plans were disrupted when Rose-Angela Nkirote filed an injunction in court, demanding involvement in the burial plans. She said Opore was her husband, with whom she had two children.

Opore, who died at the age of 77, retired from politics after losing a court petition challenging his 2013 election.

He served as Bonchari MP for three terms and also held the position of Assistant Minister for Information and Broadcasting in President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.