Fernandes Barasa signing his inauguration certificate in the ceremony held on September 15, 2022 [Photo-Fernandes Barasa, Twitter]
The new Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa has promised to wear the shoes of his predecessor Wycliffe Oparanya, whose track record remains exemplary, by fully delivering on six agendas.
Barasa has outlined Health, Water and Sanitation, education, wealth creation, food security, social development and good governance as major issues that his administration will deal with.
Health, Water and Sanitation
Barasa has promised to ensure that the Health System is functional and meets the needs of everyone. This will be achieved by upgrading the health facilities, equipping them with skilled and well-renumerated and motivated staff as well as stocking them with drugs.
In his “Amatsi Mumuliango” (water at the doorstep) program, which is a continuation of Oparanya’s project, the governor will connect as many homesteads as possible to a water supply system.
Wealth Creation
The governor has also a plan to promote business growth and make the county more attractive to investors.
Food Security
Barasa says his government will provide the necessary support to farmers through training on climate-friendly farming methods, access to fish feeds, soft loans through farmers’ cooperatives, recruiting and facilitating more extension officers, improving transport infrastructure, and spearheading market linkages locally and internationally.
Education
As a way of boosting the education sector in the country, the new governor will ensure the ECDE and polytechnic teachers have a scheme of service to guide their career growth.
He said he will also enhance the infrastructure development and recruit additional teachers and instructors to sustain the best-devolved education levels in the county.
Social Development
Fernandes Barasa says his administration will also prioritize the inclusion of all the elderly persons above 65 years in its Universal Healthcare by seeking partnerships to pay for their NHIF subscriptions to enable them to access medication seamlessly and as when required.
In protecting culture and heritage, Barasa says he will support and strengthen local initiatives that put Kakamega on the world map.
Good Governance
On this, the governor says he will foster unity and cooperation among elected leaders to better solve problems facing residents.
“None of these pillars can be realized without good governance. There is a need for all of us, especially elected leaders, to work together since the problems that our people face are better solved by our respective identifications and maximize the collective solution strategy,” he says.
Sam Oduor is the editor-in-chief at the Western Kenya Times who leverages the power of the Internet in telling stories that shape opinions.
Out of the six ….there is non touching the lives of Lugarians except health.
Governor promised lugari people that the infrastructures in lugari will be his first priorities e.g roads.
Till when will Lugari people who voted well for the Governor will suffer. We have had several leadership who have really failed us…..barabara ni zile zile hazipitiki…..No media coverage on this matter. Healthwise ….hospitali zilibaki za wachache except only lumakanda that is doing well.
We as Lugari people tunataka Western Media to be airing on infrastructures in Lugari. We need more actions from our able governor on roads in Lugari haswaaa Mautuma.