By Anderson Ojwang
A common proverb “Action speaks louder than words” aptly captures the true situation in Muranga country when contrasted with Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori counties all together.
Muranga Governor Irungu Kangata is raising the bar in the country with development projects that have placed the county above its peers, especially in Nyanza.
Kangata is hardly on news on matters of politics save for only on developments and launching of projects that speak loudest while the converse is true to his Nyanza counterparts.
But his counterpart in Nyanza has for decades concentrated and heavily invested in Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and broad-based government than fulfilling their manifesto.
The governors have been in the media propagating ODM and broad-based issues and hardly address the media on development programs and investment opportunities for the region.
Interestingly, Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyongo, Siaya and Migori counterparts James Orengo, and Ochilo Ayacko, were once cabinet ministers and have relatively huge networks and experience compared to Kangata.
It is only Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga fairly younger but has globe trotted in the recent past and even attended UN Council that exposed her to huge networks of investors.
For Kangata, he got it right by bringing on board, the diaspora, professionals, business community and elders to form a council which has provided him with the necessary ammunition to transform the county.
Recently Kangata announced Nebraska State and Murang’a County will start joint programs on agriculture and export of labor.
The Secretary of State for Nebraska Robert Evnen, who recently visited the county, was impressed by the progress the county has made in Agriculture Subsidy program called Inua Mkulima and employment of youths under the Murang’a Youth Service.
Mr. Evnen said the State has signed a cooperation deal with Kenya on labor mobility.
“We have also explored how the two regions can also use maize to make animal feed in an Industrial scale as both and Murang’a and Nebraska are farming regions,” he said.
Kangata said both Muranga and Nebraska share farming as an economic activity and there was a lot to learn from each other.
Nebraska is an agricultural powerhouse, renowned for its large-scale maize, soy, and beef production, as well as its advanced farming technologies.
These sectors directly align with Maranga’s strengths in agriculture—particularly in tea, coffee, avocado, and dairy farming. With his new status.
Chairman of the Council Dr. Peter Munga said it was possible to build strategic partnerships that allow for technology transfer, market linkages, and investment flows into Maranga’s agribusiness sector.
Muranga county has made great strides in agriculture and livestock farming and recently bought a yoghurt packaging machine for farmers union to be placed at Maragwa milk factory branded county fresh.
In the health sector, the county has made huge impressions with introduced telemedicine and infrastructural developments.
Similarly, Smart City projects are ongoing in various wards across the County to facilitate the growth of urban areas and improve drainage & other facilities to ensure towns remain clean.
Murang’a County Government has launched the Inua Masomo Program, a transformative initiative designed to enhance access to education and promote academic excellence among students in Day Secondary Schools.
Kanga’ta said the initiative will benefit 8,000 students studying in the 256-day schools in the county.
Under the program, the county will fully cover Term 1 school fees for the top 10 students in Forms 2, 3, and 4 across all Day Secondary Schools within the county. Additionally, the program will sustain its support each term, ensuring that these top-performing students remain in school and are motivated to excel academically.
Back in Nyanza, most of the counties have held investment conferences with Siaya scheduling one for October this year.
The hallmark of these investments has climaxed with local artist performance and the departure of guest with no tangible investments on the ground.
The highly media hyped international investment conference have failed to yield to the billing and have indeed become a folklore story told the vulnerable residents.
The governors are active on politics particular on ODM and broad-based government and spend millions mobilizing the residents to attend such functions.
Orengo who was once opposed to the broad-based government made about turn and said they follow the direction given by Raila and that is why he had ensured the president received a warm welcome in Siaya.
“Your excellency the president, last night and this morning, Honorable Raila Odinga rang and asked me to make sure that people of Siaya receive you well.
I am glad that those instructions have been carried out. When baba says right, we go right. When baba says left, we go left. how many of you are in agreement that when baba says right, we go right?
Your excellency the president I want to allay fears of those who think you don’t Siaya in your heart. Last week, when we spoke and you said you will be coming to Siaya that October 16th October will be in Siaya for the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference and will be presided by the president,” he said.
Currently, the governors instead of implementing their development budget have their eyes strained on the national government projects.
The national government through President William Ruto’s affirmative action, the region is witnessing a multi-billion projects being implemented.
In Homa Bay county, a tug of war over national government projects pits locals UDA leadership with Wanga, the latter claims ownership for having lobbied the projects while the former dismisses her claims.
The governors and residents have become frequent visitors to statehouse and are yet to explore and exploit the abundant opportunities locally and internationally to spur development in the region.
If anything, the skies have witnessed more development from Nyanza leaders as they are often on choppers traversing the region for birthday parties, weddings and attending funerals.
Currently, they are stuck on Kasipul and Ugunja by-elections where they flex their muscles and sell hope for hopeless while Muranga soars high in development.
