The leader of the National Liberal Party, Augustus Muli, has faulted the top political leaders of the Kenyan government for ignoring the Ukambani region. According to him, political acrimonies have overshadowed the developments of the residents.
In a statement posted on Tuesday, Muli explained that the continued stagnation in Ukambani is a consequence of what he termed “poverty politics” by national leaders who take advantage of the region for political expediency while neglecting its development needs.
The Anti-Trafficking Taskforce chairman singled out President William Ruto and former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka, who he says share the blame for the underdevelopment of the area. The political rivalry between the two leaders, observed Muli, has diverted the attention of people from more pressing issues, which include infrastructure, access to water, job creation, and social amenities.
“The back and forth political jabs have become an irritation. Ukambani needs development, not endless politics,” Muli said, adding that it is feeling it is being left out despite its massive contributions to the country’s election outcomes.
According to Muli, Ukambani’s voting power does not seem to have contributed much towards balanced development, and his explanation is that the community is taken for granted by the governments that have been in place.
He appealed to politicians to stop playing politics and instead focus on developing and ensuring that the region of Ukambani gets its rightful place in terms of resources and funding allocated by the government.
The National Liberal Party party leader also encouraged leaders from the region to put aside their interests and come together towards advocating for policies that can solve some of the challenges facing Ukambani.
Ukambani, which is made up of Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni, has been struggling with issues of periodic drought, a lack of industrialization, and infrastructure development issues. These have been the subject of debate in Ukambani political discourse.
