By Betty Luke
LMD residents in Burat Ward have told off a group of youths who disrupted Senator Fatuma Dullo’s tour to commission a solar-powered water project in the village on Saturday.
It is alleged that the youths blocked Ms Dullo and a female well wisher Fatuma Mohammud who have jointly funded the project from accessing the area claiming they had not been fully involved.
But, the residents on Sunday said the youths were not locals from the area and had been reportedly been ferried from other parts of the county over ill motives.
Mr Hassan Bale, a youth leader, said they were only interested in development oriented leaders and not handouts and urged fellow youths to cease from being misused to stir violence.
“Those involved were hired goons and not LMD youths. We (youths) no longer want handouts but leaders who can alleviate the sufferings we are facing,” said Mr Bale.
The residents lauded the senator for her contribution towards the project saying it was a relief to the women who had been travelling several kilometers in search of water for domestic and livestock use.
“We condemn the Saturday heckling and want to assure our Senator that we fully behind her due to her oustanding development track record in our area and across the county,” said Ms Abdia Gedi.
Mohammed Boru, an elder, accused local elected leaders of neglecting the area saying Ms Dullo was the only leader who had stood by and supported them.
The Senator said she had forgiven the group after they apologized and promised to continue serving her electorates with utmost diligence and dedication as she had done before.
“The youths who did the heckling are our sons too and they apologized. I have no problem with them,” said Ms Dullo.
