A burial event in Masimba, Kisii County was Tuesday treated to a circus after Deputy Governor Elijah Obebo and a parlimentary hopeful clashed with a Ward Rep over development and resource allocation.
Mr Bouse Mairura (Masimba Ward) had accused the County of skewed recruitment of staff especially from wards that are hostile to Governor Simba Arati sparking applause from the mourners who had gathered to send off Japez Ayeni, 95, at Masimba.
The vocal MCA cited the recent recruitment of medical staff which he described as blatantly biased and unfair raising concerns over transparency and equity in public employment.
The exercise, Mairura claimed, only favored certain regions and excluded the larger Nyaribari region, from which hails gubernatorial hopeful Ezekiel Machogu.
According to Mairura only one applicant was successfully recruited as a nurse.
A total of six applicants from both Nyaribari Masaba and Nyaribari Chache were recruited against the total 500 medical recruits.
Mairura said what was witnessed was a flawed process that failed to reflect regional balance and merit, as required by law.
“The recruitment was neither fair nor inclusive. Many deserving candidates were locked out while positions were allegedly reserved for relatives and political allies,” the MCA said, calling for an immediate review of the exercise.
Obebo,however shot down the accusations saying the MCA allegations were misleading and politically motivated while parliamentry aspirant Ben Momanyi accused Mairura of lethargy.
Obebo told the MCA to “check facts” before he makes just “wild accusations” before the electorate.
“What you need are facts, and nonetheless you have never approached my office for any job favours… just test me today and see, bring those who are in need of employment and I will act according,” he stated.
He also accused Mairura and of exaggerating figures of those recruited.
The deputy governor said he supports transparency and merit-based employment and welcomed any investigations that would help clarify the matter.
He was however booed by an angry mob embedded with other mourners.
Momanyi instead accused the MCA of lethargy and failure to deliver on key development promises.
He said residents in his Ward have seen little progress since the MCA assumed office, citing stalled projects, poor representation at the county assembly and what he described as “a disconnect between leadership and the people.”
“The ward deserves active, visible leadership,” said Momanyi.
“For too long, Masimba residents have waited for meaningful development while their MCA hawks rhetoric.”
Mairura, however told Momanyi to prepare for a grueling battle ahead.
He said he has since upgraded his poltucal ambition and would be squaring it out with him at the ballot.
The MCA separately lashed out Arati accusing him of orchestrating unfair and skewed allocation of county resources.
He alleged that wards in the larger Nyatibari region were sidelined in fuel levy allocations, with development funds disproportionately directed to areas perceived to be politically aligned with the county leadership.
“Our people continue to suffer from poor roads, inadequate health facilities, and stalled water projects, yet other wards are receiving huge funding at once,” Mairura said.
“This pattern suggests discrimination and goes against the principles of fair and inclusive governance.”
Mairura further urged residents to demand transparency and accountability, noting that balanced development is essential for social cohesion and economic growth in Kisii County.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
