Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa yesterday accused Senator Boni Khalwale of using the last Tuesday’s ‘Gen Z’ protest demonstrations in the County to undermine his leadership.
Barasa said Dr Khalwale and County Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, who have declared their interests in his seat come 2027, were using all means to paint him negatively.
He, however, said he was ready for battle royale and declared that he would trounce the duo and any other opponent in the polls.
He said all the grievances raised by the demonstrators, who literally held Kakamega town captive on Tuesday, were political.
“I have been the Governor of this great County for just two years and I have achieved a lot, from the 10-kilometre tarmack road per each of the 60 Wards and enhanced education bursaries from Sh 2 million to Sh4 million,” said Barasa.
Subsidised fertiliser
“We are continuing completion of the Kakamega County Referral Hospital and Bukhungu Stadium, subsidized fertilizer that has greatly improved food production, among other major infrastructural projects, all in two years,” he added.
Speaking in Kakamega town, the county chief pointed out that Khalwale was fighting virtually every elected leader in Kakamega County and that his was not an isolated case.
“You will see him inciting residents against MPs like Fred Ikana of Shinyalu, Ikolomani’s Benard Shinali, Malulu Injendi of Malava and the rest just because he wants to coerce them into supporting his gubernatorial bid,” he added.
Barasa said he was ready to account for all the resources allocated to the County. He, however, regretted that some projects were taking time to be implemented due to sluggish release of funds from by the National Treasury.
He said Khalwale failed when he served as MP for Ikolomani and that he would be “the worst governor in the history of Kakamega”.
“The people of Kakamega are well educated, exposed and responsible which is why they rejected Khalwale in 2017 when he vied for governorship. They will repeat the same in 2027,” he added.
