By Tony Wafula
The launch of the Sh55 million Sports Academy at Friends School Bokoli, presided over by Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya in Webuye West Constituency, Bungoma County, turned hostile for Governor Lusaka after residents rejected remarks by Sports PS Elijah Mwangi, which appeared to praise Lusaka’s road development record in the county.
The angry crowd told the PS to stop commenting on the roads issue, stating that many roads in the county are in poor condition. They called on Governor Lusaka to act swiftly to improve the road networks.
In his response, Lusaka appealed to the residents to be patient, revealing that he has plans to upgrade the county’s roads. “Road construction and upgrades are sometimes challenging because when you try to amend certain parts before tarmacking, the rains come and destroy them. That is why some roads are dilapidated, but be assured we are addressing the situation,” Lusaka said.
However, the Ford Kenya governor defended his track record, highlighting several key achievements such as the distribution of subsidised fertilisers and the construction of Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, among other significant county projects. “Please, our sports CS, my friend, colleague, and brother Mvurya, make efforts to push the contractor at Masinde Muliro Stadium to complete the canopies around the stadium so that it is finished before June,” he added.
Lusaka also announced that the government, through the Ministry of Health, is set to construct a Level VI hospital in Bungoma, which will greatly benefit the entire region. “This will be the only referral hospital stationed in the Western region, aside from those in Eldoret and Kisumu. It will be a full-fledged hospital with consultants to address various ailments,” he said, affirming that residents would no longer need to travel to other regions for advanced treatment.
With Bungoma acquiring a Level VI hospital, Kibabii University will have the opportunity to start a School of Medicine where students can undertake practical lessons at the facility. “We should appreciate what our leaders are doing instead of always criticising them. Speaker Wetang’ula and then Health CS Deborah Mulongo also played a key role in bringing the Level VI hospital to Bungoma,” he said.
The outgoing governor argued that his administration is committed to heavy investment in the healthcare and agriculture sectors. “Where I have not done well, forgive me; and where I have tried, appreciate me,” he concluded.
