By Reuben Olita
ODM Party/Azimio leader H.E Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga has hit out at Kenya Kwanza Government for running down the country’s economy through mismanagement.
Addressing a consultative meeting at Malaba Stadium today, Raila regretted that taxes have become bigger than salaries, which is attributed to rampant corruption in the President William Ruto’s administration.
The Azimio leader said, while airborne in a chopper, he was stunned by the massive traffic pile up along the busy Northern Corridor, which stretched several kilometres.
“These trucks spent over three days along the Highway thus creating non tariff barriers, which is hurting the economies of the Great Lakes Region including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo and Southern Sudan,” he said.
Raila added: ” These trucks have been cleared at Mariakani and Mulolongo. I wonder why the trucks are subjected to further checks if it’s not corruption.”
Raila noted that as then Prime Minister, he visited Malaba, Busia Kenya, and Uganda, where they agreed to do away with numerous weighbridges, which were impacting negatively, to the economies of East African Community Member States.
Raila told President Ruto that there was a need to have the Standard Guage Railway pass through Kisumu-Malaba to Kampala to spur economic development of the region.
He agreed with sentiments by Teso North Member of Parliament, Oku Kaunya on the need to have equity in the county, need to have operations of Malaba Municipality expedited, and the need to have Teso region given autonomy of a County.
” Devolution had many enemies with many leaders opposed to expansion of 14 regions with Busia and Bungoma sharing one region and Kakamega and Vihiga also sharing one region. We managed to create 47 regions that were transformed into counties,” he said.
He said Azimio had ambitious plans if they took over government in 2022 with free primary, secondary, and university education, regretting that Kenya Kwanza Government had failed to deliver its mandate to its country residents.
Raila said the Constitution was clear that Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) was under county governments, wondering why the national government didn’t want to give county governments funds to run ECDEs.
He lauded Busia County for taking position one in the number of ODM registered members, with Homabay, Kisumu, and Kakamega taking second, third, and fourth positions, respectively. He urged Busia to maintain the lead by having more youths register as members.
ODM Deputy Party leader Wycliffe Oparanya told President Ruto to leave the judiciary to do its work instead of engaging in endless squabbles with Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma said his government was addressing the issue of drug shortage in hospitals, noting that the drugs would be supplied through wards.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna disclosed that Budalang’i Constituency was leading in ODM members registration with 35,000 out of 46,000. Funyula was second, Nambale third, Butula Fourth, Matayos fifth, Teso North sixth with 37,000 out of 59,000 reflecting 63 per cent. Teso South is last.
Leaders, including Deputy Governor Arthur Odera, MPs, Joseph Oyula ( Butula), Raphael Wanjala (Budalang’i), Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos), Dr. Oundo Mudenyo (Funyula), Nairobi Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok said there was a need for a paragdim shift to have Teso South and Teso North restore the party’s lost glory in Teso region especially Teso South.
Oku Kaunya said, “Although Teso North was ranked sixth in percentage, they were second in numbers to Funyula, promising to launch massive registration drive to have many people join the orange party.”
Busia Woman representative Catherine Omanyo hit out at President Ruto over his failure to release NGAAF and CDF funds, likening him to a person who wants to micromanage everything.
Other leaders present included Saboti MP Caleb Hamisi, Kakamega Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Deputy Speaker Ronald Ochalu, and MCAs Leonard Onyondo (Amukura East), Denzel Musumba (Chakol South), former Amukura Central MCA MoseBaaba.
Raila tour started by holding a consultative meeting with local leaders at Malaba Empowerment Centre.
Raila later presided over the launch of member registration and verification at Malaba Dispensary grounds before holding a public rally at the same venue. He then departed to Busia for a public rally at Busia ATC.
