A section of Kenya Kwanza leaders from Mount Kenya region has called upon all elected leaders to prioritize service delivery instead of focusing on politics.
The leaders who are allied to President William Ruto have said persistent calls for regional unity are meaningless to Mt Kenya residents without service delivery to improve their quality of life.
Led by the chairperson of the council of governors (COG); Kirinyaga governor, Anne Waiguru, the said that area residents are more interested in the prices of tea, milk and coffee as opposed to regional politics.
Waiguru further said the leaders from the region whose political ideologies differ from those of certain senior politicians are facing intimidation and challenged all leaders to focus on development.
‘Elected leaders must respect the electorate and perform the duties allocated to them.’ She spoke.
‘As the chairperson of the COG, I cannot be comfortable when coffee prices are still low, milk prices are low and there is unsold tea in Mombasa.’ She ad
ded.
Speaking at Kiria-ini in Mathioya constituency during a women empowerment program hosted by Murang’a women representative Betty Maina, Waiguru called upon other leaders in the region to focus on their various roles, development and finding solutions to the challenges facing farmers in the region instead of senseless politics.
‘Let us come together as leaders to ensure our people benefit from farming by ensuring there are available markets for their farm produce, they have roads and better infrastructure.’ Waiguru said, adding there will be time for politics in 2027.
The leader of majority in the national assembly, member of parliament (MP) for Kikuyu constituency, Kimani Ichung’wa, echoed Waiguru’s sentiments saying elected leaders should focus on delivering services to the people instead of politics.
Ichung’wa further called upon all elected leaders to respect each other and work together towards improving the livelihoods of the electorate.
‘Kenyans want better milk prices, better prices for coffee
and markets for their produce such as tea.’ He spoke.
‘We campaigned by promising Kenyans better returns from their farm produce and affordable farm inputs. We have to deliver on those promises.’ Ichung’wa added.
Ichung’wa cautioned leaders against dragging unsuspecting Kenyans into their political disagreements.
Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo also called for better service delivery saying Kenyans will benefit when local leaders are united instead of fighting each other and added that united leaders are more likely to negotiate for better deals for their people.
Other leaders present included Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi, Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau and Nandi County Women Representative Cynthia Muge who echoed Ichung’wa’s sentiments.
Betty Maina, on her part, asked all leaders to deliver on their given mandate saying they will all be held accountable individually.
‘Let everyone do the job they were elected to do so that we can all deliver services to the people who voted for us.’ She s
poke.
‘Let MPs do their job, women representatives their jobs, governors and everyone else to focus on their given roles.’ She added.
She highlighted that there is still more to be done in the fight against alcohol, in improving local infrastructure and in stabilising the prices of coffee, tea and milk adding that those sectors should be prioritized as they are important to the public.
Meanwhile Maina issued cheques worth Sh. 2,550,000 from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) to 22 women groups in Gitugi, Kamacharia and Kiru wards in Mathioya constituency as part of her women empowerment initiatives.
Maina also donated 5000 litre tanks to 22 primary schools in Mathoiya constituency to help in harvesting rainwater in order to improve hygiene in schools.
The women MP also issued 2000 blankets to the elderly members of the society aged over 65 years.
Source: Kenya News Agency