Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama has called for an inclusive county government of Nakuru come 2022.

Speaking on Thursday during the issuance of bursary cheques to Day schools students in his constituency, the Legislator said time is now for the minority communities to be part of the government.

He was however quick to commend Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui for trying to incorporate the minority communities through his appointments to various positions such as county attorney, Chief Officers and the recent appointment of Chief Executive Committee Member for Youth, Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services Ms Sylvia Achieng’.

While noting that Nakuru Town West and Nakuru county as a whole is cosmopolitan, Arama said he will be rooting to ensure minority communities have their share in the 2022 government.

He also called on members of the minority communities in Nakuru to ensure they vote on the winning side.

According to him, that is the only way to ensure they are part of next  government.

“Gone are the days when county government of Nakuru was made up of only two tribes.We must ensure the minority communities we are part of the government. This  can be achieved if we vote in one basket” said Arama.

The vocal Nakuru Town West Law maker added that he will also engage President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga so that they can come to Nakuru and address the minority communities ahead of the 2022 polls.

Arama once again called on locals to shun divisive politics.

He said such politics have no room in the current nation.

According to him, Kenyans should elect leaders based on their development record adding that people like Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr.Fred Matiang’i are trusted because they are working to better lives of the people.

He cited another example of his development record in Nakuru Town West attributing it to the good working relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We should stop divisive politics and focus on development.Here in Nakuru West we are seeing development in terms of infrastructure and education because of my good working relationship with President Kenyatta who has also entrusted CS Matiang’i because of his development record” said Arama.

There is a need for more civic education at grassroot to enhance citizens’ participation in ensuring good governance in counties and national level in the country.

This emerged on Saturday during a community sensitization dialogue convened by Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG) in partnership with Kenya Tuitakayo Movement at Rhonda estate of Kaptembwa Ward in Nakuru West Sub County.

The locals decried how poor citizen-engagement in matters of budget process and governance has continued to lead to poor governance.

Ambrose Welemba noted that youth in the area have continued to shun public participation forums on matters of budget.

He called for the need for Civil Society Organizations to conduct more sensitization meetings in the area to address the same.

“Our youth should be sensitized on the need to participate in ensuring good governance. We call on civil society to help in ensuring the same” said Welemba.

Sentiments echoed by Christine Wanyama from Kaptembwo Ward who is also a member of the Projects Implementation Committee.

According to her, civic education is key in shaping the society and ensuring good governance systems in place.

She challenged elected leaders to have the interests of the people at heart and ensure all projects are implemented on time.

“When following up these projects we find that there are self-interests as a hindrance. Our leaders should focus on the interests of the people” she said.

Moly Adero from Rhonda Ward challenged women in Nakuru West to also come up and use the many financial opportunities that the government has set up for them.

Kenya Tuitakayo Movement Riftvalley region Steering Committee member Masese Kemunche on his part reiterated that despite there being some progress in service delivery 11 years since the promulgation of constitution, there is still challenge with governance.

He was quick to note that this can only be addressed through more civic education so that Kenyans can understand their role in shaping governance in the country.

“Locals here are agreeing that indeed there has been some improvement in terms of service delivery. But there is need for more civic sensitization so that the governance challenges can be addressed” said Masese.

During the meeting, locals also vowed to ensure that they be ambassadors of ensuring peaceful elections and that leaders are elected not on tribal lines but on development agenda.