A year after President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga shook hands after the contested 2017 presidential elections, some residents of Western Kenya feel let down by the handshake.
In Kakamega, Isukha South MCA Farouk Machanje has lashed out at the two saying there is no single project that has been launched in Western Kenya in the spirit of the handshake.
Machanje wants Raila to outline to Luhyas who voted for him the benefits they have accrued from the handshake.
“Since the handshake, we have seen numerous trips by the President to Luo Nyanza. Three Cabinet secretaries , Najib Balala, Keriako Tobiko and Raphael Tuju have visited Kisumu where a number of national sponsored projects are set to be rolled out ” he said.
The MCA said when it comes to seeking votes; Raila always claims to Luhya’s that he is an 8th generation descendant of the Nabongo family.
Machanje said ones elections are over; Raila seizes to be a descendant of the Wanga.
“We need to know what national projects have been lined up for implementation in Western region. There is no project to uplift the living standards of Kakamega residents and for sure we are being marginalized in the name of the handshake.” Farouk said.
He added that Kakamega Airstrip has never received a facelift and that Mumias Sugar has collapsed while Uhuru and Raila are watching.
“Raila Odinga is aware that the Luhya nation does not fail nor disappoint him. Leaders like Musalia Mudavadi have many times suppressed their ambitions for Raila’s sake. The pain of supporting Raila has always been equally distributed between the Luhyas and the Luos,” he said.
He said its time Luhya’s stopped supporting Raila since he is taking them for granted.