Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati is going through tumultuous times, as opposition forces threaten his development agenda.
On Sunday, the governor launched an ambitious project of dualling a carriageway at the heart of Bungoma town. The road which will run from Sang’alo Junction to Kanduyi will be constructed at a cost of Sh1.38 billion.
But those opposing the project have stated that the road is a national government project and should be constructed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). The governor should concentrate resources on other projects.
It is on this background that a Nairobi based businessman has organised a mother of all demonstrations in Bungoma to petition against the project.
Addressing the press in Bungoma town on May 16, the famous businessman Zachariah Wakhungu Barasa stated that all plans to hold a peaceful demonstration on Friday, May 17 are complete.
“We are not against the project but we are against the procedures followed, the county government did the planning haphazardly without following up the laid down laws,” he said. Barasa went ahead to state that there was no social impact assessment report and they provided a Nema assessment report after human rights questioned its seriousness and authenticity.
“The county is also going to invest the huge amount of money in only one sub-county (Kanduyi) to a project that would have been undertaken by the national government, what about the rest of the 8 sub-counties?” he posed.
He called on the county government to stop the works or face the full wrath of the masses.
“I have already informed the police and plans are complete, the demos will be peaceful, we don’t expect any sort of counter-attack, we will do it peacefully, sent our point home and retreat to our homes,” said the tycoon.
The project is facing a court battle with petitioners John Khaoya and Raphael Makokha having sought for an interpretation on whose role between the National government and the county is supposed to construct the road.
Bungoma high court judge ruled that there was no order stopping the county government from carrying on with the project but set the exchange of documents between two parties on June 6.
The road, the most ambitious project yet, is part of Governor Wangamati’s 5 flagship projects. This contract is set to be completed in 24 months.