Raila promises special fund to develop marginalized counties if elected president
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader
Raila Odinga has promised to address inequality he says has faced counties such
as West Pokot for a long period.
Speaking on Monday at a consultative
meeting in Kapenguria, Odinga said if voted president next year, he will ensure
there is an equalization fund to support counties such West Pokot, adding that
the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was meant to increase resources to seal
the disparity.
The ODM leader said the
government should put in place measures to ensure that resources are trickled
down to less-developed counties.
“We need to extend the railway
line from Kitale to here. Recently we extended the Standard Gauge Railway line
by 23 kilometers in only months, so bringing the railway here is a small
thing,” said Raila.
Raila further assured Kenyans
that he will ensure counties receive a boost by allocating sufficient cash to
address the infrastructures at the grassroots level.
“This area can very much be
self-sufficient in food production because of the weather. But you find that
the farmers of maize are not happy people because of the cartels who have
infiltrated the fertilizer and seed business,” said Raila.
“These cartels are making our
production costs high, and they are known. They should be arrested and jailed,”
he added.
The
delegates meeting was attended by governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega),
Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo-Marakwet) and host governor John Lonyangapuo.
In his Monday tour, Raila also addressed
residents at Kishaunet show ground and later Kapenguria town.
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