Leaders from the Teso community in western Kenya on Tuesday argued their case on why they need a county of their own.
Appearing before the National Dialogue Committee, the leaders said the continues to be marginalised being under Busia County.
In her presentation, Teso South MP Mary Emaase said as a minority and marginalised group, Iteso of Busia County have not, since independence and more so since the enactment of the 2010 Constitution been accorded several opportunities.
"We have not been accorded opportunities in educational and economic fields, access employment, water, health and infrastructure," she stated.
She added that the community has not been able to develope cultural values, languages and practices.
"It is not lost to members of this Bi-Partisan Dialogue Committee of the common current claim by the previous and current political elites that the Western Region is a Mulembe Nation."
"This is extremely prejudicial," she added.
Emaase said the claim is an indicator of the Iteso as a minority and a manifestation of the clear intention to "intimidate, silence and suppress voices of minority communities in the region."
Emaase added that the Iteso community also qualify to have a county because of their population size.
"We have counties like Lamu and Tana River whose population is much less," she added.
According to the Kenya Population Census 2019 the total population of Busia County was 893, 681 out of which 306,150 are Iteso representing 34.3 per cent of the entire Busia County.
Teso North MP Oku Kaunya noted that Busia County has 35 wards, and therefore 35 elected members of the County Assembly.
"However, only 12 are members of the Iteso community," he stated.
He added that there are 18 nominated members of the County Assembly out of which only one is from the Iteso Community.
"This means that try as they can, no Motion by the Iteso community can be passed in the County Assembly," he said.
He added that they have also been shortchanged in appointments of top county positions.
"Out of the 10 County Executive Committee members, only two are from Iteso community. Out of the 12 County Chief Officers, only two are from the Iteso community," he said.
Emaase urged the dialogue team to recommend creation of Teso County.