By TIMOTHY MBAYA
Migori Governor Okoth Obado will be visiting parts of Kuria tomorrow despite claims from local leaders that he has left out the region in his development plans.
READ ALSO: Obado launch Sh19 million slaughterhouse project at Karamu, Kuria
Led by Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama, the local leaders have claimed that Governor Obado had diverted money meant for the development of the region leaving the region languishing in poverty.
In a message seen by Migori News, Obado will begin his tour at Kegonga in Kuria East where he will be launching several roads, a water project as well as opening of a ward at Kegonga Hospital.
Obado will also commission the construction of a maternity ward at the hospital.
“Atafungua nyamagongwi – Kwiriba road, Maeta – Kugitimo – Chief’s office road halafu afungue Gwitonyi bridge miradi ambayo imekamilika” the message read in part.
This comes days after the area MP Kitayama sharply criticized the governor during the burial of Chief Nyakeberi Mwita in the area for excluding Kehancha town from an ongoing World Bank project.
According to Kitayama, Obado has shortchanged the Kuria people despite funds and equipment from the region running the county government during its inception.
Kitayama also said half of the county’s revenue is drawn from the Kuria region that was “hardly receiving development projects.”
“Obado forgets so fast yet the first vehicle he used as governor of Migori was gotten from the then Kehancha municipality and was among other vehicles which were gotten from us,” Kitayama said.
Kitayama was joined by area MCA’s led by Makerero MCA Joseph Hoyo who claimed they regretted marshaling their support behind the Migori governor in the last general election.
“I was Governor Obado’s strong support but it is not right what he is doing to the Kuria people,” Hoyo said.
Speaking at Isebania yesterday, Hoyo said the budget committee where he sits had set a side billions of shillings for development but that remained only on paper.
Jane Moronge, an aspirant for Kuria West MP seat in the last election wondered why MP Mathias Robi was mum while all this was going on.
“He is our mouth piece. He is supposed to represent the Kuria Community and we get what is rightfully ours,” Moronge said.
The leaders who were speaking at a burial ceremony at the border town claimed Kuria West MP had joined their ‘enemies’ in frustrating the Kuria people.
They asked members of the Kuria community to attend a meeting scheduled for this Friday at Kehancha to where they’ll discuss various issues affecting them.
The Migori governor launched various the various World Bank projects in Migori, Awendo and Rongo towns that are pitting him against a section of the Kuria leaders.
But Obado’s visit to the region aims to debunk claims he has abandoned the region where he enjoyed massive support during the last election.
The Migori governor launched a slaughter house last month at Karamu in Kuria West.
The national government is also set to construct a multi-million sweet potato processing plant in Masaba.
