MY LETTER TO KISUMU COUNTY GOVERNOR, JACK RANGUMA, RE: A CRY FROM KISUMU COUNTY VOTER. Dear Governor, Allow me to take this late opportunity and personally congratulate you for winning the first Kisumu gubernatorial office under the new dispensation. I imagine it feels extremely good to occupy the position and serve the people of the county. Congratulations were not my only reasons for writing, so before I explain my point, I know you will be curious to know whom I am and here is my introduction. My name is Barkens Oluoch from Kanyakwar village, Kisumu district in the county of Kisumu, a network engineer by profession who has lived in the region for a better part of his life and knows the real issues affecting the residents. Let me now rush and point out the relevance of this letter. As my name suggests, I am a luo with all the luo pride. I also acknowledge that “jaluo jaraha”. We believe in lavishness and comfort that life brings. We do not think twice about spending but still we have priorities, besides we spend individual money not public resources. Now his Excellency the governor, I, just like majority of the County elites have an issue with your priorities. We belong to a region that has been marginalized for years now; furthermore we are among the worst areas in the country considering development. When I heard of devolution, I thought our riddle was finally unruffled. We (the people of Kisumu) had a dream, a dream for better tomorrow. Revival of companies such as KIKOMI and breweries which would enormously provide jobs for the youth, development of road network which is entirely pathetic, empowerment of the youths in the area to improve their living standards among other equally imperative activities. All these bestowed upon one man who happens to be you, the governor Jack Ranguma, I know it is not exclusively your role to set the legislations in the county, but dear governor, you are ultimately the chief executive officer and it is absurd, uncouth and outrageous to see you entertain Kshs87M allocation for purchase of vehicles when the most pressing issues are still swept under cover. I believe in empowering our leaders to enable them deliver, but I am told they should obtain personal prados alongside operational vehicles. Is this not a disservice to the people of Kisumu? You plan to own a range rover sports worth Kshs8M, your house to cost us Kshs 10M, so in all these, as the residents, the people who voted you in office, where do we come in? We feel short changed and beginning to regret the decision we passionately took when we voted you into the office. Now that we have 47 counties in the country, allow me to draw my reference from just two to help you understand where I am coming from. Machakos County has had their first investors’ exhibition to attract likeminded people for investment in the region. This same county has allocated only Kshs10M for executive staff vehicles. With equal enthusiasm is Mombasa County who recently started a garbage collection project to keep the city clean. The governor, in his wisdom as the leader of the people opted to divert his car allocation amount to the purchase of a garbage collecting track. I call this leadership because it is about service to the people. Kisumu, what makes us so different until we must just have the people last and our selfish interests first? I beg to be answered Mr. Governor we believed in you, please do not let us down. We thought we had a special place in your heart, we thought you were different, golden hearted, but the ugly truth of exact irony is glaring at us. I am afraid the man eat man society phenomenon that we ardently rejected is slowly regaining its roots back. Please you have a constitutional and moral task to protect us from this ignominy. I do not believe in threats and a person of your stature hope you do not as well, so here is my 10 cents advice. Five years will come and go, and then people’s relevance will surface again. You have this time to either make or break your chances when that day finally arrives. Accept my sincere gratitude for your time as I rest my case. My regards, Jakanyanam Opato
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 18:50:30 +0000