Bungoma residents heckle Governor Lusaka over state of roads

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka was yesterday heckled by a section of residents over the condition of roads in the county.

This happened during the launch of the Sh55 million sports Academy at Friends School Bokoli which was presided over by the Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya in Webuye West Constituency.

The crowd turned hostile after Sports Principal Secretary (PS) Elijah Mwangi commended the county boss for the improved road network.

The PS had hailed the governor's infrastructural development before he was interjected by the angry residents who humiliated the governor by shouting that the roads were in a poor state.

The irate crowd told off the PS to stop commenting on the roads issue, saying that many roads in the county are in bad shape, calling on Governor Lusaka to move with speed to improve the road networks.

In his response during the address, Lusaka called on the residents to give him time, revealing that he has plans to upgrade the road networks in the County.

“Road construction and upgrade is sometimes challenging because when you try to amend certain parts before tarmacking, the rains come and destroy that is why we are having some parts with depilated roads, but be calm as we address the troubled situation,” Lusaka added.

However, the Ford Kenya governor defended his track record, revealing that his administration has done much, citing the distribution of subsidy fertilisers, the Construction of Masinde Muliro stadium in Kanduyi, among other key county projects.

“Please, our sports CS, my friend, colleague, and brother Mvurya, make efforts and push the contractor at Masinde Muliro stadium to complete putting canopies around the stadium so that the stadium is completed before June,” he said.

Lusaka also said that the government, through the Ministry of Health, is set to construct a Level VI hospital in Bungoma that would go a long way in serving the entire region.

“This is the only referral hospital that is going to be stationed in the Western region apart from the one in Eldoret and Kisumu. This is going to be a full-fledged hospital with consultants that would help in addressing different ailments,” he said, affirming that residents would no longer travel to other regions seeking advanced treatment.

With Bungoma acquiring a Level VI hospital, Kibabii University in Bungoma would have an opportunity to start a School of Medicine where students will be using the facility for practical lessons.

“We should appreciate what our leaders are doing, not every time criticising them, Speaker Wetang’ula, and by then, Health CS Deborah Mulongo played a part in this Level VI coming to Bungoma,” he said.

The outgoing governor argued that his administration is determined to invest heavily in the healthcare and Agriculture sectors.

“Where I have not done well, forgive me, and where I have tried, also appreciate me,” he said.

Last week, Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli led a high-stakes investigation into how donor funds meant for agriculture are being used across the county.

Wakoli, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Blue Economy, announced Saturday that the probe aims to uncover potential misuse of both donor and county funds designated for boosting agricultural productivity.

“We are taking a close look at how these funds are being spent, especially here in Bungoma. Farmers deserve transparency and results, not bureaucracy and excuses,” Wakoli said during a meeting at Mabanga Agricultural Training College alongside Governor Kenneth Lusaka and county officials.

Senator Wakoli emphasised that the committee's oversight extends far beyond crops, covering livestock such as sheep, goats, donkeys, and camels, as well as Kenya’s growing blue economy.

“We want to see whether county governments are integrating agriculture into broader economic initiatives like industrial parks, and if those efforts are benefiting everyday Kenyans,” he said.

Wakoli pledged that the committee will deliver actionable recommendations following the investigation. Any issues that exceed the capacity of county governments will be escalated to national authorities.

Governor Lusaka welcomed the probe, saying the committee’s work could help plug holes in Bungoma’s agricultural system.