The Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport and Public Works Kipchumba Murkomen has told Parliamentarians from Migori County to be open while soliciting for developments for their constituents.
Kipchumba was speaking during a tribute he paid to the family of Kenya Airways’ acting MD Henry Ogoye following the demise of his Sibia Ogore in Nyatike.
The CS who left mourners in stiches said that at least a section of Mps from the region aligned to Azimio, are yet to go to his office and ask for development for the fear of being branded traitors.
“I want to tell you to come and ask for developments for your people because we are not serving a political party or a tribe, but Kenyans,’ he said.
Fear of victimization
The former Elgeyo Marakwet senator said that most of the mos from Luo Nyanza region who have had a roundtable discussion with him can at least point a few projects.
He referred to Carolly Omondi’s Suba South which he said that already Sori-Magunga road is on the process of constructions.
“Am glad that as at now, Sori-Magunga road is an ongoing project and we are coordinating with Mps to add more funds for the project so that the contractor stays until its completion,’ he said.
On the list also was Uriri Member of Parliament Mark Nyamita whom the CS praised for defying the threats from fellow ODM allied Mps.
He said that so far, the good working relations with with Nyamita has seen Stella-Gogo road being tendered.
“When my friend Nyamita approached me for road connection Stella to Gogo, I am glad to say that the road’s construction has already been tendered,” he added.
Stop pretence, join the bandwagon
CS Murkomen on the other hand faulted the other Mps for pretending to be mindful of the constituents plights yet they are reluctant to approach the executive.
He criticized Nyatike MP Tom Odege for being reluctant to say that he has at one point approached him for fear of being victimized.
“My friend Tom, you I know you have come to my office, but that you were too worrisome. I want to encourage you to come on a broad daylight,” he said.
Stop the undocumented roadside requests
Murkomen also discouraged the Mps from saying that Masara – Muhuru road is yet to be finished because the handshake government which initiated it is no longer in power.
This was after Odege publicly requested him give a greenlight for the completion of the road, apart from putting up an airstrip in the constituency.
“We have an airstrip which was being used by the colonial people while they were extracting minerals from this area. It’s my request that you rejuvenate the airstrip which has lied useless since independence,” said Odege
While replying to this, the CS told the MP to stop brainwashing his constituents by asking for developments at funerals yet they don’t want to associate with him at the office.
“You know it’s at the office where things are formalised and out on paper. We have all done to mournband console our brother and the public need not to be fooled by such non documented pleas.” he said.
The former senate Majority Leader told the leaders that he is also a political son of Raila Odinga and that there will be no harm if they work with him.
“I know that deep down, you’d like to follow this route but because of fear of being called traitors, you back off. Personally, I am Baba’s political son and I know there is no harm in helping me rolling this agenda,” said Murkomen.
Murkomen’s utterances followed Migori Woman Member of Parliament’s speech, Fatuma Mohammed who said that they need Raila’s permission before they make any step.
The precendents
Fatuma who heightened politics at the burial ceremony even after the bereaved requested politicians to play low, said that politics runs her veins.
She said, “politicians live on politics and I am setting you free to do politics till dawn at my burial when the time comes.”
It’s from here that she opened a discourse which would later turn against them when Murkomen decided to open the Pandora box on how Migori leaders are hyenas covered by goat’s skin.
Previously during the launch of Migori Airstrip, Kipchumba revealed that the Mps have been sneaking into his office for a development discourse yet are reluctant to boldly tell the public.
It’s at the event that he said that Awendo MP Walter Owino was like a double sword which decided to let its one side work.
“You know my friend Walter Owino belongs to boths sides, coming to us when in need but continue to fault us in public,” he said in his address during the launch of Skyward Airways.
Kenya Airways Fund
Murkomen however said that the his office is working closely with the Mps to pass Airways Fund to help in revitalisation of the air transport infrastructure.
He said that since he joined the cabinet position, he found a delapitated sector which he has been working day by day turn tables around.
“I found a delapitated sector which so far I have worked tirelessly to streamline and make it a prestigious one for the benefit of Kenyans,” he said.
A workaholic civil servant
He praised Henry Ogoye, naming him as a workaholic who is committed to providing the best out of him.
He said that working with Ogoye has made him achieve so much, among them, putting in place 12 new airstrips across the nation.
Renovation the JKIA, boosting road transport
Murkomen also said that the government is working on a close association with Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA) to expand the runways which will allow larger aircrafts and planes to operate.
The same, he said will apply to the road transport which is the main medium of transport, being used by majority of Kenyans to access their destinations.
He was accompanied by his counterpart for Information, Communication and Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, PS for Roads and Transport, Mohammed Daghar, Ps for Internal Affairs Dr. Raymond Omollo and Kenya Airways Authority chairperson.
IAN BYRON 
KTMN Reporter