A section of Matayos residents in Busia county have accused their member of parliament Mr Geoffrey Odanga blaming him for being the stumbling block to the relocation of Matayos deputy county commissioner from Busia town to Matayos market.
Airing their views during public participation at Matayos market the residents said that Mr Odanga is being misadvised by a section of the Matayos council of elders with selfish interest and defy cabinet secretary interior Kithure Kindiki ordering Matayos sub-county deputy county commissioner to move to Matayos.
“Let Matayos constituency Member of Parliament Mr Geoffrey Odanga be informed that we are not happy with what he is doing. He is the reason why Matayos deputy county commissioner is still domiciled in Busia town despite the order from the Cabinet secretary Mr Kithure Kindiki to have him moved to Matayos market.”
The group added, “There is a group of people, mostly elders based in Busia town are misadvising Mr Odanga to encourage him to oppose the relocation of the deputy county commissioner.”
According to them, they are forced to walk longer distances and spend a lot of money going to Busia while seeking government services, yet the services can be brought near if the DCC’s office is moved to Matayos.
“We don’t know why some people are opposing the relocation of Matayos sub-county DCC to Matayos the way it was gazette. The People of Matayos are forced to travel to Busia town if they want government services, yet they can get them here at the DCC’s office. Services such as seeking birth certificates, and application for national identity cards among other government services will be brought here, but that can only happen if DCC will move to this place,” said one of the residents.
Besides government services being closer to them, they also noted that the DCC’s office will attract development at Matayos Market, which will include the increase in land rates, those with rental houses will get tenants, and businesses in Matayos Market will boom.
“Office of the DCC comes with a number of benefits. Those with rental houses will get tenants at a good rate, the land rates will also increase and even businesses at Matayos market will boom, since the population will increase.”
This comes months after Mr Kindiki ordered Matayos DCC domiciled in Busia county commissioner headquarters at Busia town to move to Matayos and pave room for Teso South DCC, after the formation of Teso Central sub-county a move that was not received well with a section of leaders especially from Luhya community.
The elders termed Mr Kindiki’s order as the “government’s intention to interfere with the existing administrative and political boundaries and displacement of key government offices in Busia County.
However, Matayos Member of parliament through his personal assistant Pascal Sande dismissed the accusation saying that the member of parliament is determined to find a lasting solution to the boundary issues between Matayos and Teso South sub-counties.
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