Poor roads and Medical Facilities among Key Critical Issues Ailing Bungoma Residents

By Isabella Maua

Residents of Tongaren have on Wednesday taken part in public participation and presented their issues before the Budget and Appropriation Committee.

The forum which was chaired by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali was attended by hundreds of wananchi across the 9 sub counties within the larger Bungoma.

Key issues highlighted by the representatives before the chair were poor road infrastructure, inadequately equipped medical facilities and lack of electricity.

Odeo Ezekiel (from Sirisia) of Civil Society Organisation Bungoma highlighted Kimaeti -Lwakhalo road which was proposed to be upgraded to a Class A.

“Upgrading the road to Malaba will highly boost our taxation on this route since at the moment we collect over Ksh. 400,000 in its current state also it’ll aid our farm produce transportation across our borders,” said Ezekiel.

More than 4 sub counties mentioned completion of Medical Training Colleges as well as upgrading of current hospitals as their most urgent matter to be addressed by the committee.

Rev. McLay Wachilonga noted that more than 90% of Tongaren have no access to electricity and there is no tarmacked road in the area.

“There’s no tarmacked road from Turbo- Brigadia -Ndalu whereas this area conjoins Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia,” lamented Wachilonga.

In conclusion, Tongaren MP John Chikati appreciated the participants for heeding to the call and assured them full consideration of their proposals.

“We shall maturely deliberate on these issues presented before us and after look into them, action will be taken accordingly as per Kenya Kwanza manifesto which is to better every mwananchi’s life in Kenya,” affirmed Chikati.

Also present in the forum were Samuel Moroto, MP Kapenguria, Philip Koima Senior DCC Bungoma North, Bernard Kikechi MCA Mbakalo ward among other MCAs and area leaders.