Kitutu Chache South Member of Parliament (MP) Richard Onyonka on Friday explained why he stormed out of a public participation forum organised by Kisii Governor James Ongwae.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Mr Onyonka explained that he stormed off as a protest against what he termed the county government's failure to consult his constituents before initiating a dumpsite project in his region.
Mr Onyonka outlined that Governor Ongwae's team had organised a consultation forum with less than 30 residents of the Nyachieko Ward that he estimated to have a population of 10,000 people.
"I am bitter with this project because none of the constituents were consulted. The county administration just came up with an idea and decided to execute it in a parcel of land here against the people's will.
"This is strictly unprocedural and against the provisions of the constitution and cannot be allowed!" the MP exclaimed.
He went on to explain that the county government had submitted a "fake" assessment report to support their project and had neglected to indicate how the risks raised by the dumpsite would be mitigated.
"They came up with a fake impact assessment report and tabled it to support the project, not bearing in mind that there are three primary schools neighbouring the piece of land for the proposed site and the number of homesteads in the area.
"I acknowledge that the report at least indicated the risks that the proposed dumpsite would bring to the people around the place but the report did not offer a single measure to curb the risks.
"I'd also have liked the Governor and his team to explain to the residents how they intended to make this thing work because so far in Kenya we do not have a waste management plant that has been initiated successfully," Onyonka lamented.
The county government had expressed the intention to build a waste management plant that would be responsible for developing fertilizers from the waste and helping with garbage disposal.
[caption caption="Kisii deputy governor Joash Maangi"]
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Deputy governor Joash Maangi dismissed the MP's claims stating that it was just an aim to oppose the county government without grounds.
"We have to finally get a place to dispose of waste, it is generated by us and for a healthy and clean country, we need it.
"Whenever we find a site, someone stirs residents against us. This does not augur well for the development," the DG stated.
