Politicians and elected leaders have been asked to stop premature 2027 campaigns and instead focus on serving the electorate.
Cooperatives and Micro and Small Enterprises Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya led other leaders from Western region to call for a stop to early 2027 campaign, saying the trend was derailing delivery of government development programmes.
While speaking at the roll out of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project held at Musingu Boys High school in Ikolomani Constituency, Kakamega County, Oparanya observed that 2027 was two and half years away, yet some politicians were already on campaign trails.
“Tell the electorate what you have done and if they are satisfied, you will be re-elected instead of engaging in premature campaigns,” he added.
The former Kakamega County Governor, who was accompanied by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali and Vihiga County Woman representative Beatrice Adagala, rallied the youth to take up the empowerment programmes being rolled out by the government to start gainful employment opportunities.
They said this would shield the youth from being manipulated by politicians for their own selfish gains.
MP Shinali castigated some politicians for hijacking the burial to heighten political tension in the area.
“There is nothing tangible ever said at the burials, not even about government programmes being rolled out across the country,” he complained.
“If you have been elected, work with what you have to benefit the people so that come 2027, you can be sure of re-election,” he added.
Adagala urged youth countrywide to take up National Identities (ID’s) and register in large numbers as soon as the Electoral Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) is reconstituted in readiness for the 2027 general election.
The MPs hailed the broad-based government formed between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, saying it has helped foster unity and development in the country.
Shinali said he was recently elected as chairman of the National Assembly’s Trade, Industries and Cooperatives, courtesy of the union.
By George Kaiga
