Siaya governor James Orengo has challenged Kenyans not to fear demanding accountability from their leaders, including the President and Governors.
According to Orengo, those trying to instil fear in Kenyans who keep on demanding accountability from the President were dragging the country back.
He was addressing residents who turned up at the county headquarters to witness the swearing-in of new county executive committee members.
Orengo said the Constitution is clear on how both levels of government are supposed to work and guards against roadside declarations.
He said Kenyans must be keen to follow up on numerous projects that they are being promised and check whether they are captured in the budgets.
“If you want to know that a road is coming to your ward or village, look at the budget that goes through the county assembly. The same applies to the national government,” he said, adding that the government operates on a programme-based budget that has no room for empty promises.
“Even with the promises that we have been given in Siaya, you better look at the national budget – whether what you have been promised is in the budget,” he said adding: “you may be promised a road for Sh5 billion but when you go to the budget, there is only Sh200 million set aside,” he alleged.
Orengo further cautioned the public against being hoodwinked into thinking that Nyanza was benefitting a lot from the broad-based government compared to other areas, saying that figures and data were speaking contrary.
“I want you to take every parameter, roads, health centres or funds going to urban development. Take a county from anywhere, say central region and compare to counties in Nyanza. You will find that it is a big myth” said Orengo.
Orengo who leads the Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement party told Kenyans to be prepared for a big change next year. “Some of us who believe in free and democratic Kenya are going to bring that change,” he said.
by Philip Onyango
