Kisii Governor Simba Arati on Saturday strongly defended his administration’s development record, saying his government has transformed Kisii County through key infrastructure, health and education projects.
Speaking at his Nairobi home, Arati dismissed claims by governorship hopeful Ezekiel Machogu that the county had stagnated under his leadership.
“I even heard someone saying I am a mess. Does everything I am doing reflect the so-called mess? Is helping Shabana a mess? Is putting cabros on the streets a mess?” Arati posed.
The governor said his administration inherited stalled projects, pending bills and a struggling health sector, but had since revived service delivery and restored public confidence.
“We have worked tirelessly to improve roads, equip hospitals and support schools through the milk programme. The people of Kisii can judge us based on what they see on the ground, not political rhetoric,” Arati said.
He accused some critics of engaging in early political campaigns instead of supporting development initiatives aimed at improving residents’ livelihoods.
Arati said his administration had prioritised transparency and prudent use of public resources, adding that county funds were now reaching projects that directly benefited wananchi.
He cited the construction and rehabilitation of roads, expansion of health facilities and support for farmers among the key achievements realised since he took office.
However, Machogu, who has declared interest in the Kisii gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, criticised Arati during a burial ceremony in Kisii on Friday, saying he was ready to “clean the mess” allegedly created by the current administration.
The former Education Cabinet Secretary accused the county government of failing to effectively address development challenges facing the region.
Machogu recently said Kisii residents deserved “better planning and proper management of county resources,” remarks that have intensified political rivalry ahead of the 2027 elections.
Arati, however, maintained that politics should not derail ongoing development projects and urged leaders to focus on unity and service delivery instead of personal attacks.
“We welcome criticism, but it must be constructive and aimed at helping our people. Leadership is about delivering services, not endless political battles,” he said.
The outspoken governor also dismissed his rivals as weak and desperate, declaring that he defeated them convincingly in the last General Election and would do so again in 2027.
“I defeated them fairly in the last poll and I am ready to face them again in 2027. The people know who works for them and who only appears during elections,” Arati said.
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