A political storm is brewing in Suna West Constituency, with a UDA youth leader accusing the area’s Member of Parliament of presiding over what he claims is an uneven distribution of development resources, bursaries and government opportunities.
Paul Okeyo, popularly known as Wuon Osama, who says he was speaking on behalf of residents of Ragana, alleged that some parts of the constituency have benefited disproportionately from Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects while other areas have been left struggling for basic infrastructure and education support.
Mr Okeyo claimed that political loyalties and local rivalries were increasingly influencing the distribution of public resources, warning that such an approach risks deepening divisions among residents of Suna West.
His accusations, if substantiated, would raise questions about whether public development programmes are being distributed according to need or political considerations.
Bursary inequality at centre of complaints
At the heart of the grievances is the allocation of bursaries and support to schools and students.
Mr Okeyo alleged that schools in some parts of Oruba have repeatedly benefited from bursary allocations while institutions in other areas continue to struggle to secure assistance for needy students.
“Schools in some sections of Oruba are receiving bursaries consistently, including institutions like St Celestino Nyangubo Girls’ and Bondo. Yet schools on our side, even those that urgently need support, are left out,” he alleged.
He singled out Bishop Okinda and parts of Migori Township, claiming that the areas have sizeable student populations but receive inadequate bursary support.
According to the youth leader, the issue goes beyond individual schools, arguing that students should not be disadvantaged because of the political leanings of their communities.
“The CDF is not reaching these students, and many deserving youths are being denied bursaries,” he said.
The claims could not, however, be independently verified from the information provided, and the affected legislator has not been given an opportunity in this account to respond to the allegations.
Roads: ‘Why is Ragana being bypassed?’
Mr Okeyo also turned his fire on road development, alleging that tarmacking projects have deliberately bypassed Ragana and neighbouring areas.
He questioned why some roads connecting communities within the constituency continue to deteriorate while other routes are being upgraded.
“If there is development, let it be development for everyone. If it is politics, let us play politics on the field,” he said.
“Tarmacked roads are taking routes that deliberately bypass our communities, leaving our roads in poor condition.”
The allegation places road development at the centre of a broader political argument over whether public investment in Suna West is being guided by objective development priorities or political calculations.
For residents dependent on roads to access schools, markets, health facilities and administrative centres, the condition of the network remains a practical issue rather than merely a political talking point.
Jobs and recruitment claims
The youth leader further accused authorities of failing to provide equal opportunities to unemployed young people during recent recruitment exercises for local security and government positions.
He alleged that many young people who registered and met the requirements were overlooked, while individuals perceived to have political connections were favoured.
The accusations come at a sensitive time, with fresh recruitment exercises expected to attract hundreds of unemployed youths competing for a limited number of opportunities.
Mr Okeyo urged local administrators and political leaders to make the process transparent, insisting that recruitment should not become another avenue for rewarding political allies.
He called for clear criteria, equal access to information and a process that allows young people from all parts of Suna West to compete on an equal footing.
‘Development is not a favour’
The dispute has exposed deeper political tensions within the constituency, particularly over perceptions of who benefits from public resources and who gets left behind.
For Mr Okeyo, the central question is whether development should follow political allegiance or the needs of residents.
“We are urging our MP to respect all residents of Suna West. Development should not be a favour granted to a few, but a right for every citizen in this constituency,” he said.
His remarks are likely to intensify scrutiny of the distribution of CDF-funded projects, bursaries, roads and employment opportunities in the constituency.
The allegations also put the spotlight on the need for public disclosure of project allocations, beneficiary lists and recruitment criteria so that claims of discrimination can be tested against verifiable records rather than political perceptions.
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