[SIZE=6]President Uhuru to unveil new projects in western Kenya[/SIZE]
By LINET WAFULA
President Uhuru Kenyatta has lined up tens of development projects he intends to unveil when he tours western region next month in a bid to win support ahead of next year’s General Election. A tentative programme shows that Mr Kenyatta will be in the region in the last week of August to officially launch the projects spread across Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia counties. On Tuesday, key leaders fronting the Jubilee coalition in the region will hold a meeting with President Kenyatta’s Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and selected Principal Secretaries to discuss the projects to be launched as well as the logistics for the tour.
“We have a meeting with several Principal Secretaries and Mr Kinyua at Harambee House on Tuesday. That is when we will discuss the tour and the projects to be unveiled in detail,” said Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka in an interview with the Nation. “The main project is the re-opening of the Pan Paper factory in Webuye which is scheduled for August 30, that is the date we have been given,” the Bungoma governor added.
Besides re-opening the Pan Paper factory, Mr Kenyatta is expected to use the tour to launch a number of key projects which include the opening of a one-stop border post crossing point to Uganda in Busia County. He will also launch the Sh1.2 billion Sigiri bridge in Budalang’i Sub-County whose MP, Ababu Namwamba, is leading the current anti-ODM crusade in the region. President Kenyatta commissioned the bridge last year following an accident in which nine people lost their lives after a boat in which they were travelling capsized at Siginga in River Nzoia.
“The bridge will open up the region for development and prevent loss of lives,” Mr Namwamba said.
The President is also expected to launch Muluanda ginnery in Funyula Sub-County which stalled some time back due to competition from second-hand clothes. Funyula is represented by another disgruntled ODM MP, Mr Paul Otuoma, who, like Mr Namwamba, resigned from his post in ODM recently. President Kenyatta, who is expected to be accompanied by his Deputy William Ruto, will also launch the construction of the Busia-Alupe-Malaba road. In Kakamega county, the President is expected to unveil the Kakamega-Kisumu dual carriage highway, Lurambi-Ingotse-Navakholo road and Sigalagala-Butere-Sidindi road. He will also launch the Mumias water supply and Amaatsi water project in Vihiga County. President Kenyatta is also expected to officially launch the tarmacking of the Misikhu-Matunda road and Endebes-Sikhendu-Turbo road, according to a tentative itinerary seen by the Nation. According to Lugari MP Ayub Savula, President Kenyatta will also officially unveil the Lugari Teachers Training College during the tour.The President’s tour is expected to reverse any gains made by Cord leader Raila Odinga when he toured the region two weeks ago to counter the anti-ODM crusade fuelled by Mr Namwamba’s and Dr Otuoma’s resignations from the positions of party secretary-general and vice-chairman respectively. Chaotic scenes characterised Mr Odinga’s tour in Mumias town with youth blocking the road to bar him from addressing crowds at Shibale trading centre. However, he was well received in parts of Vihiga County notably in Luanda and Emuhaya and Khwisero regions. The hostility resurfaced when his supporters clashed with those of Mr Namwamba, forcing police to intervene and disperse the latter’s supporters.