Ken Obura: We should work with Jubilee

Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura at a past event. FILE PHOTO | JACOB OWITI |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Obura said the region must accept to work with the government.
• He added that slow industrialisation within Kisumu and its environs was attributable to bad politics.

By MOSES ODHIAMBO
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Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura has hinted that he is ready to work with the Jubilee government to spearhead development in Nyanza.

The legislator told nation.co.ke on Saturday that the region has lagged behind in growth following its alienation from the ruling parties.

He said the region must accept to work with the government and forge ahead to be part of the ruling system from 2017 onwards.

Mr Obura said he will rally local politicians to join any strong coalition or parties that will form the government in 2017.

“We must work out ways that will make us be part of government either as number two or any other number from now and beyond 2017,” the first time MP said.

He said the region had supported the opposition long enough and must be ready to even play second fiddle in national politics as long as they are in power.

Mr Obura said the long stay in the cold must come to an end adding that as youthful politicians, a change of tact was inevitable.

“We must be in government either as the presidential flagbearers or as the running mates of whoever will have the clout to garner votes that make us get the presidency.

“We must change tact. As young leaders, we may not have the patience of our forefathers in seeking these services that come with being in government,” Mr Obura said.

He added that slow industrialisation within Kisumu and its environs was attributable to the bad politics that has not accommodated the growth and prosperity of the people.

“We need the support of Jubilee to build our stalled factories and revive the collapsed ones through the 85 per cent of revenue that remains in national government after counties are funded,” he added.

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

Mr Obura’s comments came even as the region seemed to be changing strategy to accommodate diverse political ideologies.

This was escalated by the recent announcement by Joshua Kuttuny, the political advisor to the President, that Uhuru Kenyatta plans to run state business from the lakeside city for three days.

Mr Obura asked Mr Kenyatta to fast track his plans to visit the region saying there were critical issues the region expected him to address.

“We need development just like other regions in Kenya; the 85 per cent stake of the national resources must be shared in a way that it trickles to all of us even if it means that we get them through goodies that come with his visit,” Mr Obura said.

But a section of the ODM brigade reminded Mr Obura as well as those pushing for presidential visits to the region that they are already in government by virtue of controlling 24 counties including Nairobi.

They reiterated that the impatience exhibited by the push for inclusion was ulterior and should therefore ship out if they feel uncomfortable being outside the government as the law allows them to do so.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said the situation of western Kenya or ODM being out of government does not arise.

He says that the 24 counties under the jurisdiction of ODM contribute to more than 50 per cent of the national gross domestic product.

“This hangover of clamouring to be in government should get out of people's minds; ODM as a political party will at one point capture and retain this power if leaders avoided such diversionary calls of working with Jubilee,” said Mr Wandayi.

The ODM legislator said by 2017, several changes will have taken place including disintegration of coalitions that attempt to clinch the presidency.

“Jubilee will not be the same; internal rifts will tear many factions apart. A government of national unity cannot work now; let us strengthen our party and use county governments to give development services to the people,” he said.

“The push for a referendum that will increase allocation to counties by 40 per cent was the key to unlock this potential.”

Tom Mboya, a political science lecturer at Maseno University, dismissed the perception that working with the government translates to development.

He said the Constitution had made it easier for Kenyans to access services under devolved governments as well as through the Constituency Development Fund.

“Before we look upon visits as the only way to bring goodies to the people as reminiscent of the Kanu regime, citizens must know that the money is right here with them and as such need to hold all leaders accountable over the resources under their watch,” Mr Mboya said.