Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Karungu Bay, Migori County.
One of the recently created administrative districts, in greater southern Nyanza, which is currently on the move, is Nyatike.
Laying in the far end of the former greater Southern Nyanza and bordering Tanzania on the land and Uganda in Lake Victoria, Nyatike, is an area which is previously considered as the most backward in the region. It has had its own parliamentary constituency for the last 16 years ever since its separation from Ndhiwa in 1992.
In the first multi-party election, in 1992, Tobias Ocholla Ogur won the seat for the first time on a Ford Kenya party ticket. The party was then led by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Ogur, however, quickly made an about turn and crossed the floor back to the ruling KANU, and lost in the seat in the consequent by-election.
The NDP and then LDP supported and fronted the late Tom Onyango a petty kiosk trader in Migori town who carried the day.
The NDP and later LDP had swept the board clinching all the parliamentary and civic seats in Southern Nyanza.
In the general election of 1997, Ocholla Ogur bounced back and recaptured the seat of the defunct LDP party led by Raila Odinga. He successfully defended his seat in 2002, but performed dismally in the 2007 general election, and was beaten hands down by the youthful Edick Omondi Anyanga who appeared to have turned the previously sleeping constituency around.
Nyatike district previously had two administrative divisions, namely Karungu-Sori and Maclder. But it has now five division comprising of Got Kocholla, Kaler and Muhuru Bay Divisions. The area has a full pledged DC, DO I and district officers manning all the five divisions plus district heads of departments and all the government offices are functioning well.
Today Nyatike provide electricity supplies to all primary and secondary schools, market places and all the institutions. The area has the best rural feeder and access roads to the envious of other neighboring constituencies. This is perhaps because of the abrasive youthful and aggressive MP who has kept members of the local CDF committee on its toe.
On the education front, Nyatike beat all the other primary schools in the entire Migori County in last year CPE exam coming on top. This is due to the competitive nature of teaching initiated by the MP who is reported to be dishing out special gifts to teachers who performed well. The prizes include new suits, bicycles and other gifts. Earlier last year the MP had requested for teaching experts from other parts of the country who went to Nyatike for the purpose of carrying out refresher course for teachers through seminars and workshops.
Fishing and fish trade is the main economic mainstay in the constituency, which borders Tanzania on other main land and also a small portion on the Lake Victoria and Uganda in Lake Victoria. The disputed Migingo fishing island is believed by Kenyans to be part of Nyatike district, though Uganda had seized and posted its marine police to man the island to the chagrin of the local residents, who sees the government of Kenya for having failed them and abandoned them in the hand of hostile foreign occupying force.
The MP who is known to his peers as Omuk Lela {Rhino} has persistently demanded both in the August house and outside parliament that the Uganda security personnel said to be harassing about 500 Kenyan fishermen operating on the Migingo Island be driven out, and always scathingly criticized the government for its handling of the Migingo saga.
The shortage of fresh water for life will soon be over in Nyatike. Plans are under way for a major water project to be taken u by the UNICEF that will see the water piped from Lake Victoria and spread into the villages in Sori, Obware Secondary School and other nearby villages.
The water supplies will go beyond the constituency boundary and even benefit the residents of the neighboring Ndhiwa district. The residents are also said to be Liaoning with tourist operators in Nairobi with the view to ensure plans are earmarked for tourists to visit attractive tourist points in the region.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
this is KANU-era journalism. Why didnt you let the MP buy space in the newspapaers and praise himself? how come you didnt interview any resident of Nyatike to confirm what you are alleging here e.g electriticity in all pri schools?
The development in Nyatike, Karachuonyo and Ndhiwa are evident to those who knew the areas a few years back. It is our wish that the same happened in other neighboring constituencies especially Ogindo’s Rangwe, Mbadi’s Gwassi, Pesa’s Migori, Otieno’s Rongo, and Kajwang’s Mbita.
i come from Nyatike constituency, Karungu division to be honest. my home is situated en route to Sori. to be honest, i think has piled so much undeserved praise on the MP. if u were to visit the area u wud knw the real situation on the ground. dhiwa is even beta than my constituency. b honest plz.
its embrassin,disturbing & frustrating 2 hear some of ua calibre praising some1 who should B condenmed 2hell.stop being a sycophant.
I come from Nyatike,mapowa village.Its evedent that Omuk lela has done better than the previous mps in Nyatike.The mp is development oriented and should be given another term to complete his development plans.Nyatike is shining and rising.sky is the limit.Jatelo we shall support you to the end.
Jack ogalo Nyokendo.
councillor in waiting.
I learned in Nyatike -Bande girls school and loved the peace in that constituency. Omuk lela just needs a little styling up. otherwise Nyatike will be far with the riches in it.
tel that mp we need good infrastructure including at least a tarmarked road from migori to muhuru bay ,and at least clean drinking water for people in othoch rakuom and got kachola and then al be able to vote him in for another term!
As much as the outgoing mp has tried in rural electrification, what will you, the incoming mp, do to ensure that the maginalised areas like Keler Division also get electricity? Will you again remember the poor infrustructure within Kaler, especially Sagenya area which is almost abandoned?
If I were an mp today, I could put some colledges like youth polytechnics and agricultural training institutes to help the youth, especially in Kaler which is very domant.
Omuk Lela has done a lot indeed. I hail fro Kaler and the man really has our support.
nyatike mondo odhiiiii
Am shocked!Which Nyatike is this? Nyatike residents are very far from water.I think you lived here in the lake and forgot somebody lives in the land.I recomend you review your sentiments here!ASAP!