Former Migori County governor Okoth Obado has called for peace among the county residents ahead of the planned visit by President William Ruto who will launch key development programs within the county.
President William Ruto is set to tour various parts of the county during his visit to Migori between Thursday 23rd, 2023 and Saturday 25th, 2023.
Mr Obado while confirming the president’s visit to the county has urged the residents to be jubilant as the county is among those that have been considered in the development rollout.
Referring to the Kisumu chaos during President Kenyatta’s visit, Mr Obado pleaded with the residents to desist from chaotic behaviours.
“Let’s all welcome the president with all zeal, adhere to the laws and regulations of this country and welcome the development agenda that he will bring to us.” Said Obado.
The former governor who served as the campaign coordinator for the president’s UDA party in Nyanza noted that the decision for the president to visit the area shows his readiness to work with everyone despite the political affiliation.
He urged the residents to embrace diversity and let go of their political pasts noting that it is now time for the president to deliver his promises to Kenyans.
Demonstrations
The president’s visit is planned at a time when the opposition party has called for countrywide demonstrations to call for an affordable cost of living.
While this could bring worries to the residents over the visit, Mr Obado has urged the residents to desist from the demonstrations calling upon them to observe other parts of the country which enjoy the normalcy of business and other development activities.
“Let us not be at the frontline of protests and demonstrations. Other parts of the country are enjoying peace yet the alleged inflation affects everyone,” noted the former head of Migori County.
Expansion of Roads
Mr Obado appreciated the effort of President William Ruto to enable accessibility of various parts of the county by launching several road constructions when he was the deputy president.
He noted that the president will commission several roads to allow more accessibility of parts of the county that are potential investment attractors.
Unity talks
The president’s visit in the county has however attracted the attention of the residents from Suna West, Suna East, Awendo, and Nyatike Sub counties that have been excluded from the presidential visit program.
This comes after a section of MPs from the county who were elected on the ODM ticket visited the State House and showed their readiness to work with the president, raising eyebrows about their political intentions.
Obado however, congratulated Mark Nyamita MP for Uriri and Paul Abuor, MP for Rongo on their bold step to cross the bridge and open arms for working together with the president.
He further called on other MPs from the county to be open to working together with the president for the betterment of the lives of their constituents.
However, the former governor pleaded with residents not to support MPs for Uriri and Rongo, Hon. Mark Nyamita and Hon. Abuor respectively adding that the step they made was for the constituents’ own benefit.
Gaining More Influence.
Migori County has been a stronghold for the president right from the jubilee government era, going by the poll statistics.
The president got the highest votes in the 2022 general elections by over 40,000 votes making it the county in Luo Nyanza where he gained more votes, more especially from Kuria West and Kuria East constituencies.
IAN BYRON