Former Machakos Woman Representative aspirant Rita Ndunge (KANA) has criticized elected leaders for spending their festive season away from their electorates.
Ndunge said it was not right for the politicians most of whom together with their families spent their Christmas holidays in various towns and cities across the country including Mombasa and diaspora to 'forget' their electorates at a time they needed them most.
She said leaders once elected must get their priorities right.
“Elected leaders must focus on supporting their electorates so as to improve their living standards,” said Ndunge.
Ndunge spoke to hivisasa.com on the phone, Friday.
She was responding to netizens’ reactions on photos of herself doing household chores in her rural home during the Christmas holidays that have gone viral on social media.
Machakos residents took to social media to congratulate Ndunge for being a true leader and 'real' Kamba woman after she posted photos of herself carrying a 20-litre-jerrican of water on her back and another while sweeping her compound at Katanga village in Machakos Sub-county on December 31.
“Paving the way for the New Year 2019,” Ndunge captioned the photos on her Facebook page.
A resident, Felisters Muia said Ndunge is a good leader and an example worth emulating in the society.
“You are a good example to the society, God bless you and Happy New Year,” Muia posted in response to Ndunge’s message.
Another local Raphael Kathukya, posted, “Akiau?!! Usu ni mitungi wa 20 ltrs wi muongo?!! Congratulations.”
Ndunge said it is incredible for some of the elected leaders in the county to enjoy the holidays with their families away from their geographical areas of jurisdictions while electorates languish in abject poverty.
She said the situation can be improved if devolved resources alongside those from the national government are put to good use.
Ndunge said lack of water in her rural home prompted her to carry the jerrican for one and a half kilometres from a dam to her home.
“I walked one and a half kilometres carrying the 20-litres-jerrican of water on my back. This is after I found my water tanks dry in the village. I had no option but to do exactly what the villagers, especially women and youth do,” Ndunge said.
The Charity Mashinani Initiative’s director said there are high levels of poverty in Ukambani since most women and youth take most of their time traveling several kilometres fetching water, the time they could have utilized in income-generating activities.
Ndunge said children from the region drop out of school due to the water problem, and high rates of poverty levels.
She urged the Machakos government to be serious in providing the locals with fresh water.
Ndunge said she is hopeful Mutua will make his campaign manifesto of connecting households to piped water a reality.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Egerton University.
Ndunge also holds a BA in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Nairobi alongside Diploma in Crime Management and Prevention from Kenyatta University.
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