Gem Member of Parliament, Elisha Odhiambo has vowed to ensure that a sugar factory is built in Panyako within his constituency despite alleged opposition from Siaya governor.
Odhiambo said that they will not allow Governor Cornell Rasanga to fight the investment plan in his constituency saying the project was set to create jobs for thousands of unemployed youth in the region.
“The project will further boost the region’s socio-economic standards and we will not allow Rasanga to fight it,” said the legislator who was speaking at Wagai divisional headquarters while presiding over the disbursement of bursaries to bright and needy students. During the occasion, Gem constituency bursary fund disbursed over Sh. 16 million to secondary school students.
Odhiambo said it was unfortunate that the governor was frustrating efforts to open up the rural areas for investments by insisting that investors pay homage to him as an individual.
He said that they campaigned for Rasanga to be re-elected on the premise that he will improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the county.
“He has now reneged and is frustrating efforts to have investors in Gem. We shall not allow this and the factory will be built whether he likes it or not,” vowed Odhiambo.
Last month, Governor Rasanga ordered the investor to stop the construction of a sugar factory in South Gem, claiming that the investor had not sought his permission.
Rasanga, who spoke in West Gem, said that he was the custodian of all land in the county and anybody wishing to invest must seek his approval or have the project rejected.
By Philip Onyango
