Siaya County government accused of failing to support needy students

Siaya,

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

KNA by Philip Onyango

A legislator from Siaya is accusing the area county government of not doing enough to support bright and needy students to access higher education.

Gem Member of Parliament, Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo laments that the Siaya county government, led by governor James Orengo was lagging behind in terms of support systems for students from humble backgrounds whose parents and caretakers are poor.

Speaking Tuesday at Mutumbu in North Gem location while meeting 35 students he has fully sponsored to join form-one and a group of village elders, Odhiambo said that the national government has always ensured that counties and constituencies have money and all that was required was proper planning and identification of the beneficiaries.

“The government has ensured that counties and constituencies have money so members of the county assemblies and members of parliament can partner to ensure that no child is left behind,” said the Orange Democratic Movement legislator.

He said that loitering around turning funerals into forums to attack perceived political enemies will not help the county and country at large and urged leaders to instead devote their energies in serving citizens.

Odhiambo at the same time took issue with top ODM leadership for persistently telling Kenyans that no development could be derived from State House while they knew too well that that is the seat of government where development decisions are made.

“My party leader recently said that I went to State House under the guise of looking for development while, according to him, there is none there,” said Odhiambo adding “if indeed his statement is true, why then does he perennially contest for the presidency to occupy State House?”

 He called for political maturity in the region, adding that his decision to partner with the government was not for selfish gains.

“I am doing so because the government is progressive and I want Gem to be part of Kenya,” he added.

He challenged the elite in Gem to support bright and needy students from the area access education, saying that it was not enough to take to social media all cases of those in need of help to join secondary schools. 

Courtesy; KNA