Homa Bay leaders skip Mashujaa Day celebrations

Mashujaa Day in Homa Bay was observed uniquely after the county government and elected leaders boycotted the fete.

Locals were perplexed that even the governor completely stayed away. The function that was held at Homa Bay County stadium was left for County Commissioner Naphtali Mung’athia, county police commanders, Deputy County Commissioner Ali Duba and other officers of the national government.

Whether by design or by default, it was quite strange that both the legislature and the executive arms of the county leadership stayed away from the public holiday to the surprise of residents.

Public holidays, which have been celebrated in the county since inception of devolution, have in the past been attended well by the county government alongside Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma.

During previous public holidays, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti has been in the forefront in the celebrations.

Monday, shocked residents did not take this lightly and read arrogance in their county leaders.

“The county is faced with numerous challenges which must be addressed by our leaders. This is the forum where they should have addressed and informed us how far they have gone with projects and what they intend to do in future,” said former Mfangano councillor in Mbita Constituency Aphaxad Mugambwa.

However, Governor Awiti said it was not his wish to abscond the celebrations, adding he had an urgent cabinet meeting to receive an audit report whose deadline was yesterday.

Redefine holidays

Through a statement from the director of his communication department John Oywa, the governor said he was receiving an audit report on development projects from his executive committee to enable him analyse them for the well being of Homa Bay residents.

“The governor and his Cabinet are analysing progress of the county development projects where the Executive Committee members are presenting their audit reports to him to comply with today’s deadline,” Oywa said.

When contacted by The Standard, Kaluma said attending public holiday functions is an individual choice.

“I am in Nairobi preparing to travel to Philippines with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constituencies Development Fund and in fact, I did not even attend the one presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta at Nyayo stadium,’’ said Kaluma.

The legislator noted there was need to redefine public holidays, saying the real heroes are yet to be recognised.