Siaya Residents Call for Honesty in Leadership

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Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi on a campaign trail in Segere area. Photo by Jack Ohito, DevReporter, Siaya County

By Jack Ochieng Ohito, DevReporter, Siaya County

Highlights

  • The fund seeks to create employment opportunities for the young in nation building.
  • “Let people get what they deserve in terms of service delivery and balanced development. This tendency of coming during elections, like now, with fake promises should stop.” Mr. Yewa adds.
  • Did your leader use government’ funds prudently?

In 2006, the government of Kenya through flagship projects to achieve vision 2030, created the youth fund, later transformed to a State Corporation in 2007. The fund seeks to create employment opportunities for the youth.

This project, which was majorly intended to boost the youth, hit a snag as most youth in Siaya County claim that it is in accessible.

“Our request to the concerned parties is to make the application process more simple. This is our third attempt without success, after fulfilling on all the requirements.” Mary Auma, a youth in Siaya, shared her experience in trying to access the fund.

While RBNews was engaging the residents of Siaya, the people alleged that they only hear of the fund over the television. Mr. David Yewa a contractor in Siaya County, alleges that millions of shillings are misappropriated simply because some leaders in Siaya do not do their work effectively.

“There are a lot of gaps in terms of involvement of the public, many times they are not included in public participation and therefore their views are not captured well.” He said.

The residents could not hold their displeasure, alleging that leaders mostly show up during the election period to offer fake promises. They claim that only a few of the promises are ever fulfilled.

“Let people get what they deserve in terms of service delivery and balanced development. This tendency of coming during elections like now with fake promises should stop.” Mr. Yewa adds.

However, in discussing this issue, many people would want reforms in bursary allocation processes, which currently don’t seem to clear to those in need of them.

Faith Akinyi a student who sat for her KCSE last year cannot get her result slip from her former school simply because she has not completed her school fees.

“My parents tried to apply for bursary but in vain, when I went for my results slip, I was told to first clear the balances. Thus, it’s my humble request to those vying to consider the neediest people when allocating resources.”