Jubilation rent the air in Ogembo as Kisii County Governor Paul Simba Arati awarded the Municipality charter to the town.
Thousands of jubilant residents thronged Ogembo town to welcome the news that they termed as ‘Simba’s new year gift’ to the larger Gucha population.
They came in large numbers; Members of Parliament, Members of County Assembly, former leaders, teachers’ union, the business community, the motorcycle riders, the matatu operators, the mama mbogas, the fruit venders, among other crucial stakeholders in the Municipality.
Already, locals have had a taste of the new status; the Simba administration has embarked on water connectivity projects that will not only benefit the people of Ogembo town, but also those of the neighboring centers.
“My officers are working on water pipe connections to Ogembo from the Mosora water plant. They are also fixing street lights for Ogembo town. The backstreets of Ogembo town have been earmarked for opening up for tarmacking and cabro-paving, to give the town a befitting status,” announced Governor Simba.
As a Municipality Ogembo will have donor funding for Development projects, Improved service delivery to residents, emergency and disaster preparedness, attraction of Investment, improved business opportunities, development of urban infrastructure such as roads, pedestrian walkways, foot bridges, cycle lanes, storm water drains, social halls, markets and water works.
“All these benefits will culminate in an improved local economy and availability of employment opportunities for our people. I urge the residents to support this new development because it will bear more benefits than harm, in the long-run,” noted Simba.
He added that the elevation of Ogembo town to Municipal status will attract development projects through funding by the County Government and development support from partners such as the Kenya Urban Support Programme.
“The Municipality status for Ogembo is a laudable advancement that will improve the ability to benefit from intercity or twin city development and capacity building partnerships both locally and internationally,” said Simba adding that under the new status, avenues of management have been bolstered to effectively respond to the expectations of the residents.
The Governor hinted at plans by his administration to consider upgrading Suneka town into a Municipality.
Besides, he said that his administration is working towards elevating Nyamarambe, Masimba, Marani, Mosocho, Nyamache and Mogonga to Town Status, alongside others like Kenyenya, Keumbu, Nyakoe, Tabaka, Etago, Nyacheki and Magena.
He thanked the former and current assembly leaderships more especially the Committee for Lands and physical planning for approving the Municipality Charter.
Members of Parliament present Alpha Miruka (Bomachoge Chache), Obadiah Barongop (Bomachoge Borabu), Innocent Obiri (Bobasi) Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache) lauded the governor for the step saying apart from creating employment opportunities for qualified youths, the Municipality will attract more allocations from the national government agencies like KURA, paving way for more development projects.
Ends.
