Makueni Women Rep hopeful Jacinta Wanza has lauded devolution for what she termed as transforming lives in the county but regretted the residents were yet to reap maximum benefits.
She said, with inception of the devolved system of governance in 2013, Makueni people were optimistic that perennial problems such as water scarcity, food shortage and poor health services would be a thing of the past.
“We can’t say nothing has been done in terms of implementing development projects but a lot could have been achieved if the county executive and assembly operated in harmony as stipulated by the law.
“The protracted fallout between the two arms of government cost the residents development due to difficulties in planning and slow uptake of the national budget share,” Ms Wanza told journalists at Machakos Town.
She expressed optimism that the next regime will give precedence to socioeconomic growth of the region which has for ages suffered sluggish development.
Wanza also urged the electorate of Makueni to elect leaders based on their policies as opposed to political party affiliations.
“A leader who fails to deliver to their people is to be held liable but not the party that sponsored him or her, ” she added.
Hitting out at NASA co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka for his resolve to only root for Wiper aspirants at the expense of others also under the opposition umbrella, Ms Wanza said he should focus on national politics and let Kamba people elect their own leaders without undue interference.
Promising better leadership, the aspirant beseeched the people of Makueni to overwhelmingly vote for her in the August 8th elections.
She further called for nonviolent electioneering saying. leaders should not issue threats to their opponents but instead sell their agenda to the people without inciting political violence.
Wanza, who is vying on a New Democrats Party ticket, is set to battle it out at the ballot with incumbent Rose Museo, Maureen Wavinya Nzioki (KANU) and Eunice Munanie (Jubilee).