Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Oyugis Town

A plan, to have the menace water hyacinth in Lake Victoria mechanically cleared, has been envisaged. It would be undertaken by experts from Israel and South Africa.

The by product of the dreadful weeds, which has been hampering fishing and navigation facilities in the lake, would be used to produce biogas.

This was disclosed by an executive of the Microsoft Computer International, Dr. Mark Matunga, last Sunday when he addressed the congregation at the Deliverance Church in Oyugis town.

The 36 year old computer genius, Dr. Matunga, is among the dozen or so aspirants who have already declared their interest in the covenant position of Homa-Bay County governor.

He told the faithful that Lake Victoria is a big asset for the people of the region, therefore its environmental degradation would affect hundred of thousands of residents of the Homa-Bay country and other communities living within its basin. Efforts must be made to ensure its environments are protected.

Dr.Matunga disclosed that during his many trips abroad to Africa and elsewhere he had met a group of experts who are willing to have the water hyacinth removed from the lake’s shoreline. The removal work would be mechanized and would cost the Kenya government or the residents nothing.

This is because he attached a lot of value to Lake Victoria and its economic resources. “The lake”, he added, “is the mainstay of the region’s economy. It is the sole livelihood for fishermen and those involved in fish trade. The previous efforts to have the hyacinth mechanically cleared from the lake had failed even by introduction weevils”.

Homa-Bay County has the longer shoreline in eastern coast of Nyanza gulf {Kivirondo Gulf}, stretching from Kohbuya Nyakwere in East Karachuonyo Location, covering Central and West Karachuonyo, Kochia Homa-Bay Lambwe, Mbita and winding up in Gwassi.

He showered a lot of praise on the late Tom Mboya, who died in the hails of bullets from an assassin’s gun in a Nairobi street in 1969, saying “the former Planning and Development Minister was a visionary leader. His legacy are still being seen visibly everywhere forty years down the line after his death”.

Dr Matunga cited President Barack Obama of the United States, whose late father, Barrack Hussein Obama Snr, was among those young Kenyans who benefited from a student airlift, which was Mboya’s brainchild, and is now sitting on the chair of power, presiding over one of the most powerful nations on earth. He urged modern day politicians and leaders to emulate Mboya unselfish-lessens, dedication, dynamism and political magnanimity, which has made some of his work still very visible everywhere in the country. Mboya meant well for Kenya and its people.

Talking about the future of Homa-Bay County Dr.Matunga reiterated that the newly created County would need men and women of high integrity and ability to perform and tom deliver .It will not be the resting place for recycled, retired and tired deadwoods because the challenges ahead are so great.

It covered a much wider region whose population is still reeling in abject poverty, and concerted effort must be made on poverty eradication. The available resources within the country must be put into good use.

The budget allocation for the County from the Central government would not be sufficient to help it fund its functions, therefore additional fund would be required. But it will be the duty of its leaders to find out where they could source additional funds. This is the reason that the position of the government must be held by someone who has both the national and international outlook. Such a person would be in a position to go out there and negotiate with donors and international financial agencies for extra money.

But if the electorate can elect a tired retired politicians or ex-civil servants, the region would be doomed. These important positions in the country also need an administrator par excellence and genius manager, he said.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com