Members of Kaesomalit Community in Kalapata Ward of Turkana South Sub County have been asked to embrace development projects initiated for the area.
Addressing the community after they opposed the construction of an Early Childhood and Development Education (ECDE) centre in the area, the Acting County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Education, George Emoru, said such projects are aimed at bringing development and positive change which is beneficial to the community.
A section of residents had threatened to resist the projects on grounds that it was awarded to an outsider at their expense.
The County Executive cautioned the residents against interfering with contractors’ work since he legally obtained the contract.
He, however, advised them to follow the law and apply for contracts not just within their ward but in other wards in the County.
“What you own as a community will be of help to you even in the future, let us, therefore, support this ECDE project and not allow a few people derail this good course,” said Emoru.
Additionally, Chief Officer for Education Sports and Social Protection, Pauline Lokuruka, emphasized that every child in Kenya has a right to education and by blocking the project, the community is denying the children the opportunity to access this right.
Lokuruka asked the community to embrace positive change by accepting schools to be built in the ward for a brighter future of their children and the entire community.
The ECDE Director, Samuel Eregae, told the Kaesomalit residents that the ECDE project was advertised through an open tender which gave room for interested bidders across the country to apply.
Director Eregae asked them to allow the construction to go on and those interested in tenders for projects to ensure they have all relevant documents for them to compete effectively with other contractors.
By Peter Gitonga
