By Nancy Kijana

Migori County Assembly Speaker Hon. Gordon Ogola has called upon the National Government to compensate the families of the victims who lost their lives in the swollen Osani River in Nyatike Sub County two weeks ago.

Addressing mourners in Diruma, Primary during a requiem mass organized for three victims namely Jane Adongo, Omondi Ouma and Denis Alego, the Speaker Gordon who was accompanied by his Deputy Hon. Boaz Okoth who is also the MCA of the Ward (North Kadem) also called upon the arrest of the contractor who was working on the Osani- Ndiwa road whose negligence led to the death of the three people.

He said that the contractor who was contracted by the National Government to repair the road is criminally liable and therefore should compensate the families of the victims accordingly.

The leaders said this will serve as a lesson to the rest of the contractors whose lack of commitment to their work has led to lose of many lives.

The Speaker at the same time challenged residents of Migori County to come forth and participate fully in the devolution process in their areas in order to realize its full benefits.

Hon. Gordon Ogola wondered why many people were busy lamenting over issues not being addressed by leaders while they have the right to petition the County Assembly on any matter affecting them directly or indirectly.

The Speaker said that Devolution was meant to provide services to the people up to the lowest level, hence it was the duty of each and every member of the public to come out of their cocoons  and utilized their Constitutional right of raising their voices whenever they had grievances.

‘The new Constitution gave absolute power to the common mwananchi to be heard and there are avenues through which such grievances could be heard, one of which is through petitions’, he asserted.

He decried  that many residents do not attend public hearings on issues affecting them directly including budget  and important bills, and has urged them to watch out for the public hearings which will soon be rolled out in order to take part it.