By Betty Luke
With three weeks to August 9 elections and campaigns in homestretch, Mzee David Nyoro Waithaka is confident that he will floor over 20 Bulapesa MCA candidates and take over from outgoing Idd Hassan Kimathi.
The candidate vying on former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri’s The Service Party (TSP) ticket is among the frontrunners in the race for the leadership of Isiolo’s most populated ward.
Other candidates perceived to be in the lead in the contest to control the ward’s 15, 125 votes include Witherford Mwirigi (Devolution Empowerment Party), Lydia Muthoni Ngichili (Usawa kwa Wote) and United Democratic Alliance’s Leloon Mutuma.
With a possibility of less than 100 percent voter turnout and majority of the electorates voting on tribal lines, the winner could clinch the seat with slightly above 2000 votes.
Mr Nyoro’s quest to represent Bulapesa residents in the County Assembly is premised on the desire to uplift the lives of the residents, bring change and transform the ward that he says has been suffering due to poor leadership.
“I have been in Isiolo for over 30 years and I understand the challenges our people face. It is sad that Bulapesa has remained the same despite other wards realizing improved development. I want to show Isiolo leaders how work should be done,” he says.
His plan is to strengthen and work closely with the ward planning committee to ensure equitable and fair distribution of services and projects to all areas in the ward and engage all communities and stakeholders for an all-inclusive government.
“I will engage professionals and residents from all communities in the ward and ensure there is adequate public participation to allow them share priority areas and ideas that would better our ward and county at large,” Mzee Nyoro notes.
Bulapesa key issues
He cites hunger, lack of drugs at health facilities, poor roads, drug and substance abuse among the youth, youth, women and persons living with disabilities empowerment and lack of title deeds among the issues the residents were grappling with and which he will prioritize on if elected in the coming elections.
“Majority of the residents cannot afford three meals a day due to the hard economic times occasioned by drought. I will ensure the county prioritizes on providing food to the hungry families through the special program department”.
Besides undertaking oversight, representation and legislative roles, Mzee Nyoro says he will petition the devolved government to equip the local health facilities with drugs and lobby for elevation of Bulapesa dispensary to take care of the ward’s increasing needs.
“The ward is among the most populated in the county and needs well-equipped health facilities to offer services on 24-hour basis for a healthy community,” he notes.
Promising to push for fast-tracking of title deeds in the ward, Mzee Nyoro said lack of the documents continued to prevent development of residential and commercial plots.
“Majority of the feeder roads to schools and other institutions are in sorry state and become impassable when rains fall. This is something I commit to address to ensure better road infrastructure,” he assured.
The candidate, who is Starehe Boys Centre alumnus, previously worked at the Registration of Persons office in Isiolo and rose to senior Registrar rank before his retirement.
Fight graft
During a recent interview with The Press Point, he said he will ensure county funds are prudently used and for the intended purposes so that residents benefit.
“I will not condone any form of corruption because I believe in transforming every place I go to and leaving it better than I found it. We have enough resources, it is only that they have been poorly managed,” he maintains.
If elected, he says he will work with other leaders to ensure the export abattoir is operationalized to provide jobs to the youths who have out of desperation turned to drugs ruining their lives.
Asking youth people to shun over-reliance on white collar jobs and take advantage of opportunities in the informal sector, Mzee Nyoro rooted for harvesting of grass to cushion livestock then drought hit as well as selling as hay for economic empowerment.
“We will also find a way of bringing other actors on board in establishing a rehabilitation centre to help drug addicts’ reform and be productive and rid families the burden of paying for the services,” he noted, adding that he will also nurture and promote talent among the youth.
Among the bills he will push for if elected include those that will ensure increased water coverage in the county, empowerment of youth, women, elderly and persons living with disabilities as well as Small and Medium Enterprises.
Providing PWDs with seed capital to start own businesses, ensuring favourable facilities in public offices and promotion of talent, he said, would economically empower the group.
Old to serve?
Promising to offer consultative and solution based leadership, Mr Nyoro said he will work tirelessly to get Bulapesa residents out of the yoke of poverty and be available to listen to the needs of Mwananchi.
“I will operationalize the MCA office so that our people get a place to report and share their needs so that they are promptly addressed”.
He rubbishes off his competitors for telling him that he should bolt out of the contest to allow the youthful candidates a chance to lead as he enjoys his retirement saying age should is not a determinant of one’s capability to lead.
“The focus should be on what all the candidates will bring to Bulapesa. Late former President Mwai Kibaki performed better despite being old. Some elders are visionless and not all youths can lead,” he says adding that his leadership skills were unmatched.
“My leadership has been tested and proven. I am a God fearing church elder and a Director in one of the companies. My experience is all I bring. I am equal to task and result conscious”.
As candidates intensify campaigns in last minute rush to woo voters, Mzee Nyoro appeals to young people to shun being misused by politicians to cause chaos before or during the elections.
Quick to veer off national politics pitting Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate and Deputy President William Ruto against Azimio la Umoja counterpart Raila Odinga, the candidate tells Isiolo residents to elect whomever they feel will propel the country’s agenda to the next level.
Like outgoing Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago once said “usiweke Siasa kwa roho” loosely translated to “Do not put politics in your heart” the candidate is open to any outcome.
“It’s the people to decide (at the ballot). You cannot force things. Ours is to sell our manifesto and let them make the decision. Should I not be lucky, I will go to my home in Kulamawe and allow the one Bulapesa people will pick to lead me,” Mzee Nyoro says.
He appeals to Bulapesa voters to turn out in large numbers on August 9 and vote for him promising to offer free and fair leadership.
“We have suffered from poor leadership in the past and now have an opportunity to change the situation. I have enough experience and I am ready and willing to serve you so that Bulapesa becomes great and a reference point for other wards and regions,” he says, adding “Nyoro atanyorosha Bulapesa” (I will streamline Bulapesa).
