Africa-Press – Kenya. Mvita MP Mohammed Machele has urged leaders to be more humane and help those in need instead of taking advantage of people’s misfortunes to try and gain political mileage.
Machele said the country has experienced two extreme phenomena- severe drought and raging floods- within a short period of time.
“But this does not mean we now take advantage of the two extremes to bash political rivals and try to increase our own popularity by attacking other leaders,” the first-term MP said.
He spoke during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Mary Cliff Primary School in Mvita constituency.
Machele said no one can stop a natural disaster and leaders should instead work together to mitigate the effects of the disasters.
Two weeks ago, his Mvita constituency received a major blow when three county staff lost their lives while another four were seriously injured when they were washed away as they tried to unclog a major drainage line at Makupa.
The MP said it would have been inhumane of him to use that sad incident for political expediency.
The MP called on the National Treasury to release a percentage of the NG-CDF funds that is crucial for the education of school children in the constituencies.
He said although it is understandable that the country is experiencing serious financial challenges, education of the future generations cannot be sacrificed at the altar of debt repayment.
“We have made a proposal so that the percentage that goes to bursaries be released. That is our main concern right now. The development projects can wait,” he said.
“CDF plays a big role in the education of the society and as the festivities continue, parents are worried about their children’s school fees in January when the schools open’”
Machele expressed fears that should the children not join Form 1 in January because of lack of school fees, they may be lured into vices like drug abuse and crime by their peers.
“That is why, although I know it is difficult, I ask parents to be vigilant and ensure they know where the children are, what they are doing and who they walk with during this time that they are at home,” he said.
Peer pressure, he said, is real and could lead a promising student astray if care is not taken.
He warned that as leaders, they will not engage in the business of bailing out children found in the wrong by law enforcers.
“We are all experiencing hard economic times. We will not have the luxury of running to police stations to bail people out when found doing criminal activities,” he warned.
He said they will work with security apparatus to ensure Mvita remains a peaceful, crime-free constituency.
Mombasa deputy county commissioner Ronald Muiwawi said in 2021, when he took over the helm of the subcounty security as the chairperson, Mvita was among the leading constituencies in crime in Mombasa county.
“However, we have made strides and now we do not have significant security challenges as before,” he said.
He said the security apparatus have succeeded in closing down Maboksini, a former den of thieves and hard core criminals who waylaid people near the Kenya Revenue Authority and Sauti House in the Mombasa CBD.
The last straw for the security apparatus was the gang-raping of a woman for more than eight hours at the den before she was left for dead at around 2am, late last year.
“I feel pain whenever I remember that incident,” Muiwawi, who was overwhelmed by emotions, recounted.
He said the next stop is Kinjaro, near the godowns in Shimanzi, an area also known for its crime and thugs have turned it into their haven.
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