A feud has erupted among Kisumu County leaders, days after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga was heckled in Muhoroni.
Raila met the hostile crowd when he announced that the government will put up an industrial park in Ombeyi Ward.
This was followed by area Governor Anyang' Nyong'o putting up a newspaper advert to apologise to the opposition leader, with area Senator Fred Outa now heaping the blame on the county boss.
Outa blamed the county boss for failing to inform the residents about the benefits of the project, hence the hostility that befell Odinga.
Speaking on Thursday, the senator noted that residents would have embraced the project if they had been educated on its economic benefits.
“They should have, prior to the launch of SEZs, carried out proper civic education to let the residents understand SEZs are key to the creation of wealth and jobs,” said Outa.
The lawmaker also faulted Nyong'o following his claims that the protests were pre-planned, arguing that his officers should have notified Raila of the impending situation.
Instead, he said, Nyongo's officials remained silent as Raila headed to meet the hostile residents who humiliated him in a region considered his political stronghold.
However, in retaliation, Nyong'o lashed out at the senator over his absence at the function, claiming that it demonstrates his lack of support for the project.
He added that contrary to the claims of the protesting locals that the land is theirs and has been grabbed by the county government, the land belongs to the county.
“Outa should not have skipped the event if he so values it. The government will engage with the residents to relook into loss of livelihood and investment in the land. The land belongs to the county government, which wants to transform it into productive use. Anybody who stands in the way of the project is an enemy of the people of Kisumu,” said the governor.