Rasanga apologises to locals over by-election remark

Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga and his Finance Director Daniel Nyonje respond to audit queries at Parliament on 6/08/18. [File]

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga has apologised to Ugenya residents for saying he would not implement any development projects if they failed to elect an ODM candidate in the recent by-election.

Rasanga told residents they would benefit from projects just like all other sub-counties.

Rasanga, speaking in East Ugenya at the weekend, also congratulated residents for voting for the Movement for Growth and Democracy party candidate David Ochieng'.

The governor made the remarks that offended residents at the height of campaigns ahead of the by-election.

He was part of the ODM brigade that led spirited campaigns against Ochieng'.

Rasanga was quoted as threatening to block development projects in Ugenya Constituency if residents failed to vote for his preferred candidate.

"I know things were so heated during the campaigns and I may have said things that did not go down well with you. I want to take this chance to apologise for my utterances. Ugenya is in Siaya County, and just like the rest of the five sub-counties, residents deserve development projects," said Rasanga.

He noted that devolution was meant to bring development and services closer to the people and that his government was committed to ensuring every resident enjoyed its fruits.

"This is the nature of campaigns. My remark was only meant to entice residents into voting for an ODM candidate," he said, pledging to work with Ochieng to ensure lives of residents were improved. 

"Ugenya must get what it deserves. I'll work with Ochieng' to achieve this," he said.