Support Raila on push for national dialogue, says Otuoma

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma. [Nathan Ochunge, Standard]

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has castigated leaders within the Azimio La Umoja Coalition over their hard stance against the multi-sectoral dialogue being fronted by President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The national dialogue aimed at addressing pressing issues facing Kenyans that were amplified by protesting Gen Z youths.

It has attracted a lot of opposition from coalition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper Party), Martha Karua (Nark Kenya), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP Kenya), Jeremiah Kioni (Jubilee), Siaya Governor James Orengo, Root Party Leader George Wajackoyah among many others.

Affirming his support for Raila, Dr Otuoma stated that the forum should not be viewed as a conversation between the head of state and the opposition but a platform to address the challenges bedelving our country.

"Baba is a top diplomat who cannot allow our country to burn under his watch. This is the reason he saw it prudent to engage in the forum to stabilise the county and I am fully behind his back," he said.

The governor added that the governance reform calls by the youths have arrived at the right time when senior government officials have been boasting of being top shareholders while others flaunted opulence to suffering masses.

He said the country has come along way from dark days where abductions, detain without trial and many other atrocities were the order of the day.

Dr Otuoma who made the remarks when he graced the County Field Day and launch of Livestock vaccination at Busia Agricultural Training Centre yesterday.

He that said Raila and other reformists sacrificed a lot for the freedoms the country is enjoying today thus concerns raised by citizens should be given a listening ear.

"The GenZs have raised pertinent issues that need to be addressed. However, we should not allow unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of such an initiative for their self interest."

On development matters, the Governor reiterated that the Ward Based Agriculture Sector Driven Rural Economic Revitalization Programme, initiated by his government, intends to contribute to poverty reduction by 50 percent and ensure over 142,000 farming households are food secure by 2027.

"For the last one year, through the Department of Agriculture we have unveiled different programmes focused on improving sustainability and commercialization of agriculture by leveraging on innovations and technologies for aggregation, agro-processing and export oriented value addition," he posed.

He said the initiative intends to build on the many opportunities that can be exploited by investors who want to venture into manufacturing and agro-processing with the end product being employment opportunities for the youths.