The recent move by Malava MP Malulu Injendi to present a handful (9) of motorcycles to some of us was not a good gesture but rather a well-crafted and choreographed scheme by him to reward his campaigners who drummed up support for him during last year’s polls where he was re-elected as MP- Mugai Shirugu and Samson Sayia
By Isaiah Andanje
The Weekly Vision, Kakamega
Boda boda operators within Malava Sub County in Kakamega have warned politicians against misusing some of their members for their gains. The riders drawn from the seven Wards ganged up and lambasted Malava MP Malulu Injendi and Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa saying it was time they were respected by leaders of all calibre as they enjoyed equal rights and opportunities like any other Kenyan.
Speaking to the press yesterday, they criticized the recent move by Hon. Injendi to selectively give out motorbikes to his relatives and political cronies instead of assisting all of them. They brushed off the whole idea terming it as a well-calculated move to reward some of his diehard supporters in the Boda boda industry by using taxpayers’ money.
They warned the MP against pretending to be assisting them when in a real sense he was only seeking political mileage for his re-election come 2027. Led by the Mugai Shirugu and Ward chairman Samson Sayia, they cautioned Hon. Injendi against associating with them unless his intentions were genuine and known.
The recent move by the Malava MP to present a handful (9) of motorcycles to some of us was not a good gesture but rather a well-crafted and choreographed scheme by him to reward his campaigners who drummed up support for him during last year’s polls where he was re-elected as MP, and we are aware of the syndicate so let him not come up and pretend that he cares for us, we are tired being used for political gains and it is time we should stop all leaders from mishandling us only to dump us when their needs are catered for.
They alleged that the MP had his hidden agenda amongst them and the move to purchase the motorbikes at Ksh.15, 000 each, hand them over then continue to make the remaining payments gradually, this was an attempt at blindfolding us into living that he is a caring leader.
On his part, the MP defended himself stating that the gesture was to empower them to own their motorbikes and hence it should not be politicized but embraced by all. The MP had earlier assembled some of the beneficiaries at his home where he rewarded some of them. The riders further rubbished the move and faulted the MP for practising nepotism and maintained that they will not back him politically in the coming polls.
The outgoing Mugai Shirugu ward chairman Charles Tawai told the MP that his office was not aware of any members being given motorcycles and added that it was not them who benefitted but the MP’s friends, he distanced his members from the idea completely.
“We have our own Saccos but how come the MP does not recognize and work with us in such matters like the distribution of motorbikes? Instead, the MP is using his henchmen to choose who should benefit and that is why we are against his move as he is using boda boda as an umbrella body to reward some youths who campaigned for him and yet during his campaigns he used to call and consult with our chairmen but on issuing out the bikes he has colluded with brokers to identify them”.
The riders at the same time hit out at Governor Barasa for forgetting about them after using them during the campaigns with promises of goodies. The sub-county chairman Chitunga Museve said they were united in bringing the needed change in the sub-county and county as a whole and will work with only those leaders who have our interests at heart
“We were among a team 40 Governor Fernandes Barasa used to traverse the whole of the sub-county. We campaigned for him but since he assumed office, he has no plans for us boda bodas and even if he comes to Malava he hardly has time even to greet us and that is why we are standing firm with Nelson Shilunji Taliti as our new patron and we shall work and walk with him as he has been there for us in times of need. Shilunji has been assisting many of us and we are hereby endorsing him to be our patron as he understands our predicaments well.
