Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town
The declaration of interest, and entry into the race, for Homa-Bay Senate seat last week, by the youthful Hilary Ochieng Alila, is said to have sent shock-waves to the spinal code of many politicians in the region, especially those who had intended to aspire for the same seat.
THE 37 YEAR OLD, Kampala based businessman, is the first credible and established politician to have come from Ndhiwa district, who has declared interest in the Senate seat. Alila was in Kisum and Homa-Bay over the weekend, during which time he presided over a Harambee fund drive meeting in Bondo constituency last Sunday, before returning to his business base in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
During a brief interview with this writer, Ochieng Alila said he had mobilized youth and women’s groups in all the eight parliamentary constituencies which form the Homa-Bay County. At the moment there are only six constituencies. But the recent work of the interim Independent Boundary Commission, led by Andrew Legale, had created two more parliamentary seats, one for Kasipul- Kabondo, and the other one for homa-Bay Town, and its environs which was slashed out of the existing Rangwe.
Alila said the newly created Homa-Bay has the potential of leading the rest, if its natural resources are organized and put into proper use, for the benefit of its people. It could boost tourism and form the hub and bastion of food production. The area is also resourceful in yet to be exploited minerals. He cited the much improved farming in Kasipul Kabondo and Ndhiwa constituencies. And the recent disclosure that more new cash crops are being discovered is quite a blessing,
If those who will adhere to good governance in the new County woke up to the call, there could be pineapple processing plants in Kabondo and Kochia areas in Homa-Bay and Kabondo Division within the County within two or three years.
He told the electorate to vote only for progressive and aggressive young men and women in the year 2012 general election, who could turn the region around, in similar fashion as did the abrasive Ndhiw MP Joshua Orwa Ojode.
Alila said Ojode was elected for the first time to represent Ndhiwa in 1993. It was at a time when Ndhiwa was considered by many as the most backward rural constituencies in the greater Southern Nyanza. It lacked good roads, schools and other infrastructure. Ndhiwa had only one administrative division.
But now the era boasts five administrative divisions: Riana, Kobodo, Ndhiwa , Nyarongi, Kobama and Pala, and twenty locations instead of the old six..
On national politics, Alila, who is a staunch ODM member, appealed to all the communities living in Kenya, to love one another and work like a family. They should learn how to be cohesive and join hands in developing Kenya, instead of wasting time through rhetoric’s and political slogans, based on ethnicity. Cabinet Ministers, who are known profess ethnicity and tribalism, should be fired – – asked to vacate their office, and pave the way for the deployment of youthful and detribalized leaders.
Alila said he duly concurred with the recent remarks by one of the leading aspirant for governorship of Homa-Bay County, Dr, Mark Matunga, who had said that the new County should not be the haven of retiree and deadwoods. This is a new institution which required a high caliber of governance, and not old people in office.
In fact, politicians who have already attained the ages of 60 should pack, go home and leave the scene open for the youth to battle it out.
ends
I am young and in my mid thirties, and by all standards I would wish to see young and vibrant leaders take leadership positions in our new Homa Bay county, just like in other places. However, the bashing, my peers who have so far declared interest in various positions meted on older politicans aspiring for same positions are unwarranted and unhealthy to boot. For instance, when you call a competitor a deadwood simple because he or she is 60 years,it shows that you are arrogant and unable to offer good leadership. It is time Mr. Alila, Mark and their ilk polish their tongues in their pursuit for leadership of our county, lest we write them off as a bunch of disrespectful leaders.
old age is no ones foolishness, it comes automatically.
That aspirant lacks focus! old age and wise leadreship are glued together, in fact, one can be young bt old and useless in reasoning.
Which race is this that Ochieng Alila has entered? How can one enter to race in a contest that has not been declared?Announcing his intention to contest should not be confused with having entered the race!
Governor:
The race to this office is shaping up, Old-age, youth, women, children needs a leader who is well rounded and with a future to uphold. To refer to a leader as deadwood is nonsense and reckless. For an individual to come home in hired flashy cars splash some 100K and hold a press conference is nothing lets focus on priorities and homabay constituents.