An Ode against Convenience Leaderships in Elgeyo Marakwet County (EMC)

In a discussion last evening in a Whatsapp group I promised to write this brief protest note.

The problems bedevilling EMC include

1.      capital outflow – as a result of convenience leaderships, and

2.      lack of capital inflow – as a result of unproductive staff.

The county leaderships view occupying a leadership position as a lifestyle convenience, not sacrifice and commitment like in the case of Christian missionaries who built most of the structures, especially schools and health centres, which we take pride in.

At the moment EMC does not have full-time senior staff but part-time consultants operating from Uasin Gishu County (Eldoret Town). By this measure alone EMC is a big corruption pipe that is used to siphon money from the national exchequer to develop neighbouring counties.  And it is the most serious happening in 21^st century – leaders who do not have confidence in the regions they lead.  Until we address this glaring pilferage of public resources, EMC has no moral authority to tax her residents whom they don’t buy from.

In addition, there is no concerted effort towards attracting investments or carrying out viable and productive investments in EMC. There is only a talk of increase in allocation of finances from Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), even though it is clear that going forward such formulas used in the allocation of monies to counties will only favour producing counties, not consuming and wasteful ones like EMC.

I suggest that

1.      EMC should curb capital outflow by employing only those who are committed to live, work, and operate within the county, and

2.     all future discussions about EMC, especially with the professionals and other stakeholders, should include mechanisms for curbing capital outflows and inducing capital inflows.

#Say No to Convenience Leaderships in EMC!