Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and Senator Boni Khalwale have once again clashed over the management of the county.
In a video seen by the Star, the two leaders who met at a funeral in Lubao had an exchange of words over service to the people.
During his address, Khalwale said Governor Fernandes should take his focus off the 2027 election and work for the people of Kakamega.
He insisted that regardless of who it will be, come 2027, the governor must have an opponent on the ballot.
Khalwale added that all he wants Barasa to do is implement projects equally across all constituencies in Kakamega.
"I want to encourage you, governor. Remove your focus from the politics of 2027. 2027 will come and you will have an opponent. Be it Rose, Perpetua or Dr Boni Khalwale, you'll have an opponent," he said.
"My brother, as I bring the money I want you to use the money this way, you implement a project in Matungu, and you also implement it in Shinyalu."
In response, Barasa said that Khalwale would not teach him how to do his job, as the governor.
He insisted that he had a manifesto that got him elected and should stick to his oversight role.
"Khalwale you will not tell me how to work here. Your work is oversight and the constitution does not prescribe a senator telling the governor you will do this and this. I have a manifesto and the people of Kakamega elected me. Six-point agenda item. Khalwale you are not going to dictate how I implement my manifesto," Barasa said.
He added that Khalwale had forgotten his responsibility to the people of Kakamega and focused on becoming the next governor just one year after they got elected into office.
"We elected you senator in 2022 and one year later you have forgotten your job and eyeing the governor's seat. I want to tell you, wembe ni ule ule. Hawa watu tunafanyia kazi watakurudisha nyumbani," he said.
The two leaders have been at loggerheads of the leadership of the county, where Khalwale insists that he can offer a better alternative to the current leadership of Kakamega.
Earlier this month, Khalwale also accused Barasa of failing to upgrade and improve services in level 4 hospitals, despite receiving Sh928 million for that function.
The funds were meant to improve services at Shibwe, Lwesero, Mumias, Khwisero, Butere, Likuyani, Navakholo and Lumakanda hospitals.
“I have moved around all these hospitals and have not seen anything the money has done. The facilities remain as they were," Khalwale said.
"Former Governor Oparanya spent Sh200 million to construct a modern funeral parlour and what the money did can be seen. Tell us what you have done with the money Mr Barasa.”
But Barasa dismissed the claims and instead shifted the blame to the senator, saying he failed to lobby for more funds for the county in the Senate.
Speaking in Matungu constituency during the launch of the 10km road project, Barasa said Khalwale was part of a group of senators who blocked an additional Sh22 billion allocation to counties.
“This money would have been used to purchase drugs for our hospitals. Khalwale should know that the work of a senator is to defend and support devolution and not make noise,” the governor said.
Barasa said counties are yet to receive a substantial portion of the allocated budget by the National Treasury and asked Khalwale to stop misleading the public.
He told Khalwale to champion the cause of devolution by actively supporting bills aimed at ensuring sufficient funds reach counties.