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2017 KENYA ELECTIONS

Wangamati says won’t stand for sloth, sleaze on assumption of office

Wangamati on the campaign trail with his party leader Moses Wetangula/COURTESY

BUNGOMA, Kenya, Aug 20– Bungoma Governor-elect Wycliffe Wangamati on Friday warned of stern action against sleaze and laziness.

“Let me be clear, I will be making very stern decisions come Tuesday,” Wangamati said in a speech at Kibabii University Auditorium in Bungoma on Friday night.

His warning came in the wake of revelations that the County payroll is populated with ghost workers and employees without work stations who only report to sign in and leave to attend to their private ventures and senior officers who report to work late and miss meetings.

This is the first such warning a few days after he termed as “ridiculous and immoral” a Sh13 million budget allocated to his inauguration – slashing it to Sh2.5 million. The inauguration is slated for Monday, August 21.

Wangamati also reached out to his competitors and critics to work together for the betterment of Bungoma. “Many times, we have been told that we need to get things done in order to change (our circumstances). Today, I will urge all of us to change in order to get things done. Let’s all rise above party politics and collectively take onto the urgent task of growing Bungoma,” he said.

“In the heat of politics, often emotion outran good judgment. Twice, matters got ugly. This is the time to turn a new page, heal the wounds and work together.”

Wangamati also paid tribute to his competitors including the outgoing Governor Kenneth Makelo Lusaka. “Each one of you made a huge personal sacrifice and demonstrated great optimism in the ability of our people to rise above the muck and get better,” he said.

“My friend and my brother Kenneth Makelo Lusaka, you campaigned hard and pushed us to think long and deep about what our people want. Thanks for pushing us.”

In an emotional speech, he also remembered the story of a single woman in Mikuba Market-Webuye East who saw her daughter through college with proceeds from a small vegetable stall.

“In your eye, I saw not just the resolve of our people to overcome but also the crippling challenges our brothers and sisters deal with to put food on the table,” he said.

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“You lit in me a fire to keep fighting on and it’s for you and many like you that I will serve as governor. Thank you so much.”

Wangamati also paid tribute to his wife Caroline Wangamati. “Caro, you remain my friend, a dependable partner and the love of my life. You have travelled this journey with me from day one. You did take care of our children and endured long nights while I was away on a campaign trail.”

He also thanked his parents for always praying for him. “Dad and mum, I am still trying and working to be the kind of son you would be proud of. Thank you.”

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