Tell us about yourself:
My name is Fredrick Banja. I am 39 years old. I come from Warianda Village, Central sakwa ward in Bondo Constituency. I have a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Sunderland (UK), higher diploma in Information Systems Management from the Institute for the Management of Information systems (IMIS-UK) and a Diploma in Information Technology from Kenya College of Accountancy (Currently KCA University)
I started my early primary education at Onyinyore primary school, approximately some 20kms from my village where we used to walk to and from school each day.
Along the way, Warianda Primary school which is a bout 1km from our home was established and I managed to relocate at class four to the new school where I managed to complete my KCPE in the year 1993 and passed to join high school.
After My primary school, I got several offers to join prestigious provincial schools then, including the famous St. Mary’s School Yala and Mwer Boys, but due to unaffordable school fees, we opted for Ulumbi Mixed Secondary school, In Gem Constituency, Siaya county where I studied and sat for my KCSE examinations in 1997.
What and when were you first inspired to be a politician?
Having grown up within Bondo Constituency, Warianda village to be more precise, I have lived through many of the issues facing Bondo constituency today.
Born in a family of subsistence farmers and fishermen, I spent much of my childhood helping with chores and checking the animals and at times doing fishing just for domestic consumption and at times selling some.
Given the controversial state of agriculture in the nation’s legislation currently, I know how important farming, fishing, and mining families are to the core of Bondo constituency economy and wellbeing.
All these factors need special attention, not only for Bondo but for the entire country.
It is the desire to make changes particularly in these areas and many more including youth empowerment and employment creation that have inspired me to join active politics so that my ideas and input can be turned into national policies and legislations that would benefit all Kenyans.
I also feel that the government has not done enough to promote entrepreneurship in the country and that businesses, small and medium are suffering due to over regulations and expensive loans.
Our government has become more punitive than being an enabler to make businesses thrive.
Our regulatory agencies are more corrupt and do not have the interests of the country at heart. Businesses collapse every day because of corruption and the cost of finances.
I believe all these can be tackled in parliament, at the executive level of government or even politically.
What challenges have you faced so far in your journey in politics?
A lot of challenges exist in this journey of politics, one of which is the poor mindset of the youth and the electorate in general.
This is a major challenge because they are the most affected people economically and socially, yet they are the same who are being used against each other to thwart their own ambitions and future.
I long for the day the youth of this country will stand firm against the social and economic ills being meted against them and take charge of this country.
The day the youth will not fall for handouts and tokens in place of empowerment and development, the day the youth will have a significant number in elective posts and most importantly, adapt what has been proposed for National Youth Agenda and the National Youth Commission stated in the BBI report.
In summary, the challenges are the people themselves who have not seen the need to change their way of thinking.
Most of us still believe that respect should be given to those who have money regardless of the sources of their monies and anybody who tries to oppose the rich, should be dealt with ruthlessly because in my view, this person will be blocking them from eating.
What are you planning to do for the people of Bondo?
I have the interests of the people of Bondo at heart, having lived through it. Bondo is rich with resources that include beautiful beaches, large tracts of land suitable for agriculture, large deposits of minerals, fish, an educated work force, vibrant youth, research institutions of higher learning, among others.
All these would require strategies to realize their potential.
I will be an enabler to a conducive environment to ensure Bondo thrives through pushing for better policies and legislations that will guide the exploitations of these resources for the benefit of its people,
What will you do differently from your predecessors if elected MP in 2022?
Bondo has had past and current leadership and each one of them has done what in their view was in the best interest of the people, but I feel the current leadership has done more harm than good to our people and we can no longer afford to extend their term even for few seconds when their contract expires in August 2022.
My leadership will be more transparent, I will provide real empowerment to the people through my own initiatives and government programmes.
I will not treat NGCDF funds as my own money, but government money meant to benefit the people of Bondo.
I will not be the chief farmer and supplier to government institutions as well as the chief contractor of roads and public institutions.
Public participation will be key as part of my development agenda and opportunities will be for all.
I will encourage people to work on their own parcels of lands and provide markets for their produce.
Why do you want to run for the seat in 2022?
I am convinced that this is the right time because our people need real change. I also believe in generational politics whereby new entrants, especially the youth can enter the scene for purposes of seamless transition when time will come for them to assume the leadership of the county.
The country needs a large pool of experienced vibrant upcoming leaders that will take it to the next level.
Therefore, if we shy away from offering ourselves, the country may suffer from leadership deficiency.
I therefore believe that apart from serving the people of Bondo constituency, I will also gain more experience that will propel myself to the National leadership
How can you say you stand out from all the other leaders intending challenge you?
I am more vibrant, forward looking and have the energy to steer my people forward.
I may not talk much about age, but I think my opponents are people with no agenda but self-interests. If you look at all my opponents, they were either working with the current MP and had a fall-out due to some deals that did not go as per their plans or expectations or they are people who have been planted by the current MP to split my votes. This clearly tells you that I am a big threat not only to the incumbent, but to his entire sponsored team. It is also worth noting that one of my opponents now was once a procurement committee chair under the current MP and a lot of funds disappeared under his watch.
I have also lived and done business outside the country for more than a decade, and this gives me enough exposure and experience than my opponents whose minds are only focused on stealing public resources.
What are some of the initiatives you have started to help the people of Bondo?
Having faced challenges with employment, I decided to go into business through which I created employment. Not only for people of Bondo and other regions as well. I have contributed towards education by sponsoring the needy students to pursue their education.
What message do you have for your followers?
I personally believe in generational politics where the young have equal opportunity to demonstrate to the country that they can steer the country ahead. I believe in the youth and the fact of the matter is that there will be no country tomorrow without us. We therefore must encourage one another and hold hands together. in the same spirit, I believe in real change, and that change must start with us, we must be change ourselves to see the real change.
For those who wish to reach out to you. How can they reach you?
I am available through email, fredbanja@gmail.com, Facebook @Fred Banja, Tweeter @Fbanja, LinkedIn @Fred Banja.