Your Votes are Safe in Malava Gov’ Barasa Assured

By Wakhungu Andaje

As the 2027 general election draws closer the residents of Kakamega have every reason to re-elect their governor Fernandez Barasa following his undisputed development record with much emphasis being directed to projects completion rather than empty rhetoric talks.

It is worth noting that since his election as the Kakamega 2nd governor Barasa who vied on and UDA ticket got 192,929 votes (54.74%) to be declared winner. In Malava constituency 2022, data shows that it had 94,417 registered voters with 198 polling stations and which saw Fernandez Barasa walking away with 11,000 votes.

The 2022 polls was a litmus test of what will be the outcome of the 2027 election as Barasa who has been working around the clock to capture the trust and attention of the Malava voters seems to have resonated well with the residents in matters development.

His win in Malava was however initiated and propelled by the then outspoken and ambitious Sauti Ya Malava crusader one Lawrence Toli Mukoyani whom many describe as organic, inspirational young leader who is charismatic and forceful in his approach of achieving his goals and it is through this combination that Toli took Barasa campaigns to the grass root level even during the times Covid 19 pandemic where the then aspiring governor through his youthful and vocal campaigner Mukoyani to research out to the masses by offering sanitizers and foodstuffs at the same time campaigning for his election as governor.

With Mukoyani persistent drum of support towards Barasa as the incoming 2022 govern then, saw the sub county, wake up to his calls of voting for the new governor and the over 11,000 votes he secured catapulted him to become the Kakamega county governor who is now seeking his second election.

With both Lawrence Mukoyani and Joseph Bushuru now in the county government and having regularly advocated for Barasa re-election especially in Malava, the masses have shifted their allegiance to him considering that he has initiated several key projects with the largest sub-county leading to the Malava Mp David Ndakwa declaring that Malava is now officially Barasa’s bedroom.

Barasa has been in Malava campaigning for the now Mp and his campaign machinery saw Ndakwa emerging the winner in the just concluded Malava by election.

According to Toli Mukoyani who doubles as the chief officer youth, sports and library services at the county government o Kakamega, Malava has gained a lot under Barasa’s regime and statistics are indicating that he will command an enormous voting block amounting to over 50,000 votes as his ODM party where he is the county chairman has a massive following from the sub-county.

It is also evident that the new pact between (UDA- and ODM) has also played to his advantage as he will enjoy support from the two factions.

Toli has also secured the women votes which were behind Seth Panyako and delivered them to the governors’ basket ahead of the 2027 polls.

Around the corner Jacob Bushuru has been sweet talking the bodaboda riders to rise to the occasion and ensure that the governor is re-elected for his second term.

With the two campaign machineries now empowered and in office Barasa’s votes in Malava are secured and safe with the number increasing day by day.

In Malava sub-county the governor has left an impressive track record that will fetch him an automatic second term in office after taking over all the stalled projects the earlier regime had initiated but stalled due to financial implications and constraints.

The Malava milk plant in Malava Sub County after stalling for some time due to the transition of county leadership from Wycliffe Oparanya to Fernandez Barasa, the Ksh.150Million project works has resumed through with its grand opening set be this December.

The contractor is back on site and once completed it will create over 500 direct job opportunities with its Chairman being Francis Murambi a son of the soil.

The Dairy project has seen already milk cooler sites being set up within and dairy animals being distributed to farmers across the sub-county hence expanding the dairy market for farmers. Other notable projects within Malava includes: the Manda Shivanga bridge, Manda market, Sheywe bridge in Shirugu Mugai ward, Smart farm in Chemuche ward, Musingu 1and 2 box culverts, Kakunga stock ring (East Kabras), Tombo and Shivikhwa (ECDE’s) Kuvasali water project, Malava urban water project situated at the sub-county headquarters and set to benefit 10,000 households, Chombeli water Tumbeni road from Murrram to Bitumen both 5 and 10 kms roads maintenance in each ward completed.

The recent Ksh 50Million Malava level 4 hospital facelift which the governor is actively involved is also another milestone to his vote basket from within.

Perhaps to crown it all is the granting a municipality charter to Malava sub-county where already money for its operationalization has been set aside

The Kakamega county aggregation and industrial park in Likuyani sub county at a tune of Ksh153Million, the Lugari Maize mill which has over 1,000 job opportunities, Matawa Regen organic fertilizer factory in Mumias West that will see over 1000 people getting direct employment, the Butere poultry hatchery that is now being expanded, with a capacity of employing 10,215 workers with 10,000 eggs being hatched daily, the now revitalized Lutonyi fish factory which has been rated as the best fish factory in the country with a processing capacity of 15,000 tons of fish per day, the Madala tea factory in Shinyalu sub county set to create 600 jobs, the ongoing works at Bukhungu stadium where the county is collaborating with the national government where the county has completed phases 2 and 3while the national government is completing phase 4 ahead of the 2027 African cup of nations (AFCON) games where Bukhungu has been marked as one of the stadiums to be used.

Also the Kakamega teaching and referral level 6 hospital where currently the national government has taken over its completion is a huge milestone to the residents as far as medical attention is concerned and will be a big reprieve for patients who have been travelling all the way to Eldoret to access the same services. In Ikolomani already works is ongoing for the Ksh.5.8Billion Iguhu Gold refinery where massive job creation and payment of royalties is underway.