Homa Bay leaders have been told to stop engaging residents in ohangla dances and buying them umbrellas at the expense of development projects.
“An elected leader who engages poor people in a dance and buys them umbrellas is embezzling funds,” Lake Basin Development Authority chairman Odoyo Owidi said on Sunday.
He accused some leaders of hiking the cost of development projects to create room for squandering public funds.
Owidi, also the spokesman of Rachuonyo Unity, said the exaggerated figures and misuse of funds hurt the growth of the region.
“We get surprised to hear that an MP, a Woman Representative or a governor has undertaken a project worth a given amount of money yet the actual value of the project is less than the amount on record,” Owidi said.
He said residents have the right to get value for their money.
Owidi, who was hosted by Kibiri MCA Michael Odira, said Homa Bay residents should demand tangible projects from their leaders.
“If they come and ask you to join them in a dance you should stop them and ask them development projects they promised,” he added.
He challenged leaders to point out any major project that has been done in the county for residents.
“It is wrong to mislead the public with a project like buying umbrellas and other small projects in the name of transforming their lives. Let the leaders stop misleading the people,” he added.
The chairman said residents should not be hoodwinked that their lives are being transformed.
“Let residents know that it is their right for elected leaders to provide them with development projects. Nobody should tell them they are being favoured,” he added.