Members of the Kuria community led by politicians from the region have declared support for the proposed referendum only if they will be assigned a new territory as a county.
The community is currently part of Migori county and has raised concerns over poor representation in political platforms.
Kuria East Member of Parliament (MP) Marwa Kitayama further observed that their representation in the county government was lacking with the senior most official being deputy governor Nelson Mwita.
According to the politician, the few elective posts and county administration posts had slowed down development in areas where members of the Kuria community reside.
[caption caption="Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama"]
[/caption]
"We want to make it clear that we are supporting a referendum that will enable the Kuria community to have its own county.
"We are consistently sidelined in Migori county and yet we are no longer a minority.
"The county government cannot show us any development projects it has initiated in our region yet our people pay taxes like other Kenyans. This is why we are agitating for our own county. We are tired of begging for our constitutional right," he complained.
The disgruntled leader added that the Kuria people were yet to receive the basic development infrastructures in the region such as clean water.
"The state of roads in the region is pathetic, there are no drugs in the hospitals, people don't have clean water and there is no support for farmers. Why do we say we have a county?" the politician posed.
The Jubilee party politician has been on the frontline in campaigning for the referendum despite President Uhuru Kenyatta's rejection of the idea.
[caption caption="File image of Migori County Governor Okoth Obado (centre) having light conversation with county officials"]
[/caption]
