Kisii MCA flags ‘personalization’ of county projects by Governor Arati

A Kisii Member of County Assembly has expressed concerns over the labeling of county initiatives with the moniker "Etaya", contending that taxpayer-funded projects should not be personalized for political reasons. Bouse Mairura, representing the Masimba Ward, affirmed his backing for projects geared towards enhancing the welfare of Kisii residents, but insisted that county budget-funded initiatives should be identified as such.

He specifically highlighted the ongoing Kisii County Tournament, which goes by the name "Etaya Tournament", noting that it is a public entity financed through county funds. "We appreciate the tournament and its aim of promoting youth involvement in sports and creating opportunities for young individuals," Mairura stated in a message to journalists.

He further emphasized that Sh50 million allocated to the county sports department during the current fiscal year should be utilized in the public interest. In addition, Mairura questioned the branding of high-mast lighting projects across the county as "Etaya", arguing that these projects were funded through the Financially Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program and should be presented as public infrastructure rather than being linked to a specific individual.

He also questioned the association of the county milk program with the "Etaya" name, asserting that funds spent on milk purchases are sourced from public coffers and should be viewed as a program of the people of Kisii County. Mairura's objections were not aimed at taking credit away from Governor Simba Arati for development endeavors, but rather to maintain a clear demarcation between governmental programs and political undertakings, public resources and personal assets, and public undertakings and political campaigns.

He invoked Articles 73 and 201 of the Constitution, which delineate principles of integrity in public office and transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public finances. He further called for oversight entities to examine the utilization and branding of publicly funded projects. Mairura reiterated that projects financed by the county budget, FLLoCA-funded infrastructure, the milk program and other publicly financed endeavors belong to the people of Kisii County.

"Public projects should never be personalized. They should be credited to the institution that legally owns and executes them—the Kisii County Government and, ultimately, the people of Kisii County," he emphasized. Mairura, who has expressed interest in the Nyaribari Masaba parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election, called for the principle to be applied uniformly to all political leaders.

"Let us foster development. Let us support our young people. Let us celebrate progress. But let us also uphold accountability," he concluded. His remarks were forwarded to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, World Bank Kenya and the World Bank Group.