MP Millie Odhiambo slams Water CS Mugaa over 'condescending' remarks to Governor Wanga

Speaking during a TikTok Live broadcast, Odhiambo criticized the Cabinet Secretary's demeanor during the joint inspection of the Oyugis Water Supply Project, where CS Mugaa publicly - and white bluntly - faulted the county’s engineers for a job poorly done, while also forthrightly advising Governor Wanga to seek an experienced operator.

Odhiambo expressed her disapproval of how the Cabinet Secretary addressed the county chief, describing his tone as patronizing.

"I was seeing a video where the Cabinet Secretary for Water was inspecting some water with the Governor for Homa Bay, I think it's been doing the rounds. And in a way, I didn't like the way he was talking to the Governor, like almost condescendingly. And I'm like, you know, this is not what we meant when we set up the Katiba. Cause the county government is supposed to be a government in itself. And then you have a CS almost, you know, in the Moi style, 'How come this water is not here? How come this sand is here? How come this is...' I was like, really? Really?" an unimpressed Odhiambo stated.

The lawmaker argued that the issue stems from national authorities encroaching on devolved responsibilities.

"That's not right - but it's because also we allowed water to go to national government, which is actually the role of the counties. The county is the one that should have done that work, then there should be nobody breathing down your throat about how come there's no silt, how come there's no whatever," she said. 

"But because we somehow have allowed this multiplicity of roles - it's not politics as such, it's the national government has actually moved into some of the mandates of the county government." 

Odhiambo argued that such a project should have been handled directly by the county government of Homa Bay, while also blaming the Presidency for needing to be 'felt everywhere'. 

"Because of that, you could call it politics, yes, but maybe from the national government because then the President really wants to be sure that they are felt all over the place. But ideally, water should be devolved, so it's the county that should be doing water."

The comments follow widespread online discussions surrounding the inspection video, where CS Mugaa highlighted critical operational failures in the filtration system, while Governor Wanga raised concerns over potential water losses and distribution disruptions in the county.

Without mincing words, CS Mugaa condemned the entire project, declaring the facility "dead" while also taking the opportunity to school the people gathered about the intricate dynamics of such a sensitive project.

During the inspection, Mugaa identified critical failures in the water treatment process, telling those present that the facility's sand filters had become so clogged they were incapable of cleaning any water. 

He pointed out that the filters had not had their sand replaced since the plant was first commissioned, a situation he described as unacceptable. 

"This is clogged. It can't filter anything," Mugaa said, directing his remarks at the engineers present. 

The visit was part of the launch of the Oyugis and Kendu Bay Last Mile Connectivity, bringing together national and county government officials to assess progress under the Intergovernmental Coordination Framework for water service delivery.