Poverty debate shifting to Luhya Nation. A report titled ‘Socio-Economic Atlas of Kenya’ - authentic or not - authored by Anne Waigurus ministry of Devolution claims Kakamega is the highest contributor of poverty to the national poverty. Kakamega County (Gov. Wycliffe Oparanya, Senator Bonnie Khalwale) is the poorest of the 47, the report says. So poor is Kakamega that 809,500 of its people live below the poverty line. The total population is 1,660,651. Of these 1,660,651 people, Kakamega, the second most populous county in Kenya, now the poorest, registered only, only, only 602,950 voters of which over 100,000 did not turn up to vote. If Kakamega had only taken 700,000 to the ballot; and Mudavadi had not spoiled on Mary Wambuis party, the leadership of this country would have been more devolution friendly. The county has 9 constituencies namely Malava ( Malulu Injendi MP, UDF), Lurambi (Raphael Milikau Otaalo, ODM), Shinyalu (Silverse Anami Lisamula ODM), Ikolomani (Benard Shinali UDF), Khwisero (Benjamin Andola ODM, Butere (Andrew Toboso ODM), Matungu (David Were, New Ford Kenya) Mumias (Benjamin Washiali UDF) and Lugari (Ayub Savula UDF). With Mumias Sugar winding up, dead as dodo, all thanks to a former top CEO and 2017 presidential contender already chosen by Luo elders, NIS, TNA, Kalausi among others, Kakamegas hell is just beginning. But this is not what I wanted to point out. Before I forget. However much you do harambees, you cannot save Kakamegas 809,500 poor. That can only happen via blueprint which then turns into policy. And Kakamega will need a Marshall Plan kind of policy to turn it around, otherwise the detour to indigence will be devastating. I am a staunch supporter of growth of western kenya. I come from there. Thats why your hour of reckoning is coming; you who killed one of western kenyas largest employers, largest companies. But this is not what I wanted to point out. Poverty debate may be shifting to the Luhya nation. Thats why I took these new jubilee statistics with cold water. All along Nyanza has been the poverty czar or guru or expert. Nyanza has got used to poverty stories. May be they no longer sell. May be Nyanza is improving. Or, probably, Nyanza is no longer being studied. Whats the significance of the poverty shift to Western, and, particularly, a region with the highest number of living luhyas anywhere in the world? Quite telling. Here is my theory. One, the government wants to fix some people, politically. Two, with collapse of the sugar industry, particularly Mumias Sugar - all thanks to him and his friends from Nairobi (and Kiambu) - there will be a fall back guy, and he must be fall back guy. He is not alone, Kakamega is filled with sugar billionaires, some currently serving in the 11th parliament. Mumias is dead. Three, may be it is true that Kakamega is now officially the poorest county - 809,500 poor. But why the poverty in an otherwise populous and rich county? Why the poverty by people led by some of the wealthiest? Lets see what governor Oparanya is doing. Devolution? National government intervention? Remember these statistics may be true, or false.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:00:48 +0000
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