Odinga on Mau again

Raila Odinga Friday insisted that the decision to remove all settlers from the country's water towers was irreversible.

Noting that conservation of the environment was 'a matter of life and death', Odinga said all those who had settled in the water towers will be removed to give way to intensive re-afforestation efforts.

He singled out the Mau Complex the government was committed to restoring it to its original state following years of plunder by settlers.

"This programme will start soon in the Mau but will be rolled out to other water towers so that we can conserve our environment," the PM said.

He told the youth to join the afforestation efforts under the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme noting that an initial Ksh 8 billion had been released this financial year for community programmes under the programme.

Mr. Odinga was addressing a public rally at Mesesi market in Bomachoge constituency where he led a campaign rally for the ODM candidate in the forthcoming by-election Eng. Simon Ogari.

He said the government was commited to ensuring all parts of the country were allocated equal resources for development regardless of the regions' political affiliations.

"We are all in the government and should pool our resources together for the benefit of our country," he added.

Among the targeted projects aimed at boosting development in the area Odinga said was the tarmacking of the Ogembo-Egetuki-Suneka road and the upgrading of the Mesesi dispensary to a health centre.

"We shall also address the shortage of doctors in government health institutions in this area and countrywide to ensure that wananchi receive good medical attention," he added.

He said under the constituency development fund and other devolved funds, every constituency was required to have a model school, a health centre and a market.

The Premier at the same time called for peaceful and democratic electioneering and voting in the Bomachoge by-elections saying there was no preferred government candidate.