CLEARING THE AIR ON BUSIA COUNTY COVID-19 FUNDS EXPENDITURE

CLEARING THE AIR ON BUSIA COUNTY COVID-19 FUNDS EXPENDITURE

When an accident occurs, a responsible medical officer fuels an ambulance, rushes the injured people to hospital, bandages & treats them – then later on, he accounts for the funds used/costs incurred – it would be foolish, inhuman and extremely odd for him to leave the injured by the side of the road as he seeks approval for the ambulance fuel and medication costs.

 

In similar regard it is worth noting that last year the top three / worst hit counties by covid-19 were Nairobi, Mombasa & Busia respectively.

Busia being a border County had to handle hundreds of truck drivers from Congo, Tanzania, Uganda as well as many parts of Kenya who tested positive for Covid-19, this emergency necessitated the urgent sourcing for hospital beds, ambulances, medicines, contact tracing, purchase of PPEs, oxygen etc etc – all this without support from the National Government at the moment. Busia also had to set up and maintain an isolation center at Alupe that was 99.99% occupied by non Busians, mostly the truck drivers crossing into Uganda & those crossing into Kenya.

The high number of covid cases in Busia even made it urgent, infact more urgent compared to many other counties to have hand washing facilities installed in Busia town and market centers, surely all these came at a cost. A cost that was extremely necessary.

 

Hence to accuse the Busia County leadership of having erred for not having sought clearance first before incurring these costs is to be dishonest.

If anything, the National Government should be thanking the people of Busia for having warmly received & treated Kenyans from all the other counties as well as foreigners.

WHERE IS MAMA ISABELLA MASINDE ?

Busians of all walks of life have been wondering and asking loudly WHERE IS MAMA ISABELLA MASINDE ?

In the 2017 elections Mama Isabella sought the Busia Women Rep seat – despite the fact that she did this on Jubilee Party which was highly unpopular then in Busia, she managed to floor some NASA candidates.

That she performed so well, in fact better than any other Jubilee aspirant seeking a countywide seat only serves to disclose how well grounded she is with the masses.

No wonder Busians are keen to know if she is still eyeing the same seat or as rumours have it, she is being wooed by a leading team for a joint ticket for the gubernatorial seat.

So far she has remained tight lipped but Busians remain keen on her next step.

Busians to get an airstrip soon

Reliable sources have alerted THIS WEEK IN BUSIA that the County Government in partnership with the Kenya Airports Authority have put in motion, plans that are already at an advanced stage to ensure Busia gets a modern Airstrip.

The project spearheaded by the Governor and the Deputy Governor is set to kickoff in the coming months.

This shall indeed help further opening up of the County to several other destinations.

Kudos Bwana Ojaamong & Mulomi.

Team Busia eyeing the Miss Kenya 2019 crown

Yesterday evening This Week in Busia caught up with Hon.Cynthia Mutere who led a team from the Culture and Social Services department, to check on the Miss Busia 2019 beauty pageant finalists. 

The beauties are currently undergoing, a week-long training to help them develop and sharpen the various skills that would boost their chances during the national contest.

Hon. Mutere pledged to continue supporting the girls as far as mentorship and moral support is concerned.

This year Busia County is indeed sure to present a strong team to the national beauty contest as it shall be represented by a strong, motivated and fully motivated team as the current County Culture, Sports and Social Services Committee, headed by Omwami Patrik Obuya has pledged to fully facilitate the contestants. 

Busians know who hired hooligans to heckle their Governor

 

Hon. Eifumbukhe & Hon. OAgwambo, among the attendees of the Bukiri function in Samia

It is not surprising that hired goons & hooligans were on standby to heckle the Busia County Governor in Samia on Saturday 16th Feb 2019, just a few weeks after a former Funyula MP warned that he might undo his "handshake" with Governor Ojaamong.

The strategically placed hecklers were later spotted collecting their dues from their benefactor's handlers.

This Week in Busia is sad that such archaic means of gaining political mileage are still in use in our beloved Busia.

With Governor OJ not being a participant in the 2022 election, one can only wonder what motivates such callous schemes.

As retired president would say, indeed #SiasaMbaya_MaishaMabaya

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Focus on MD, Meso

This week in Busia, we focus on one of our most gallant sons - MD, Lucas Meso.

MD Meso who hails from very humble beginnings has risen from the humble Bumutiru village to have an impact not only in the County of Busia, but at the national level and beyond.

MD whose secondary schooling was at the eBukhalalire Secondary school went on to achieve much much more. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration specializing in Strategic Management from Maastricht (MSM)/Esami) and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Financial Services from the University of Manchester. He is also an associate of the Chartered Institute of bankers (ACIB) UK and a Fellow of the IFS School of Finance (FIFS).

MD Meso has as a private citizen contributed greatly to the socio-economic growth of his home county, hundreds of youths today are able to eke a living thanks to the gainful employment they have thanks to MD. Schools, hospitals etc around the county now don classrooms, dormitories, staff-rooms and laboratories that have been realized thanks to the MD's initiatives.

His contributions at the national level have been immence and this even saw the government of Hon. Kibaki award him the prestigious state honour of MBS (Moran of the Burning Spear).

Having served diligently at the Central Bank and at the East Africa Development Bank, MD took over the leadership of AFC in 2011 and totally turned it around. From a loss making parastatal that was in constant need of bailouts by the central government, one that was almost being merged with others.

AFC is today one of Kenya's most profitable and stable state corporations. AFC today unlike the past is able to offer medical cover to all its staff, boasts  of a modern fleet of vehicles plus an expanded branch network now that stands at 45 branches. 
It is worth noting that whereas AFC has been existence since 1963, it is under MD's leadership that a Kenyan president has overseen an AFC function and even officially opened one of its branches.
Today, AFC offers its staff a world-class working experience and is definitely one of the parastatals that will be able to comply with the recent SRC guidelines on remuneration of parastatal employees.

At the Continental level, MD Meso has made a mark, just last month he got elected into the executive committee of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI). 

At the international arena, MD Meso has always been called upon to give talks and contribute to global forums in Havard USA, Netherlands, Germany etc.

Whether his name appears on the ballot or not, there is no denying that he will play a major role in who becomes MP in Butula as well as who becomes Governor and Senator at the County level.  It is not lost to us that just recently, the head of state chose to waive loans owed by Busia county farmers to AFC.

MD does remain a father figure in the county, mentoring lots of youths. 

With a son such as this one Busia's future is indeed very bright.  

Have Busians finally settled on their next Women Rep ?

Busians of all walks of life seem to agree on one issue - that Busia county urgently NEEDS CHANGE.

The face of the change by consensus is via Mama Isabella Masinde whose checkered career, credentials and experience is sure to turn around the counties fortunes.

Madam Isabella's candidature for Women Rep is very timely and most welcome.