Kakamega: Politicians and elected leaders have been asked to stop premature 2027 campaigns and instead focus on serving the electorate. Cooperatives and Micro and Small Enterprises Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya led other leaders from the Western region to call for a stop to early 2027 campaigning, saying the trend was derailing the delivery of government development programs.
According to Kenya News Agency, Oparanya, while speaking at the rollout of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project held at Musingu Boys High School in Ikolomani Constituency, Kakamega County, observed that 2027 was two and a half years away, yet some politicians were already on campaign trails. ‘Tell the electorate what you have done and if they are satisfied, you will be re-elected instead of engaging in premature campaigns,’ he added.
The former Kakamega County Governor, who was accompanied by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali and Vihiga County Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala, rallied the youth to take up the empowerment programs being rolled out by the government to start gainful employment opportunities. They said this would shield the youth from being manipulated by politicians for their own selfish gains.
MP Shinali criticized some politicians for hijacking burials to heighten political tension in the area. ‘There is nothing tangible ever said at the burials, not even about government programs being rolled out across the country,’ he complained. ‘If you have been elected, work with what you have to benefit the people so that come 2027, you can be sure of re-election,’ he added.
Adagala urged youth nationwide to take up National Identities (IDs) and register in large numbers as soon as the Electoral Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) is reconstituted in readiness for the 2027 general election. The MPs hailed the broad-based government formed between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, saying it has helped foster unity and development in the country. Shinali mentioned he was recently elected as chairman of the National Assembly’s Trade, Industries and Cooperatives, courtesy of the union.