• George Nene, the 27-year-old MCA for Elementaita Ward, broke down in tears on the floor of the Nakuru County Assembly
• Nene blamed the Nakuru County executive for failing to implement projects despite funds being allocated to his ward
• The ward rep warned that young politicians like him risk losing their seats over development failures beyond their control
A 27-Year-old MCA for Elementaita Ward was overwhelmed with emotion while addressing the Nakuru County Assembly early this week
Source: Original
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George Nene, who rose to fame in the 2022 elections when he campaigned on a donkey on the little-known Safina party, broke down on the floor of the assembly while narrating the frustrations he has faced since his election four years ago.
Nene won the seat when he was only 23 years old and had just left school.
It was a joyful moment for him and his supporters. As he took the oath of office weeks later, his commitment and dedication to serving the people of Elementaita remained the same. He wanted to improve their livelihoods. He wanted to improve infrastructure and make life better for his electorate.
However, four years later, Nene is a disturbed man. He is worried about his re-election, especially after failing to complete some of the key projects he wanted done in his first term.
In an emotional address to the assembly, the 28-year-old politician shed tears on the floor, as his colleagues watched and listened pensively.
Nene said it was not his fault that he had failed to deliver. He laid the blame on the leadership of the Nakuru County government, arguing that despite participating in the budget-making process and ensuring that money had been allocated to his ward for development, the executive had been reluctant to implement the projects, leaving him exposed.
"I'm a young man. Those who know me understand that I have just gotten my first child, who is still breastfeeding. When I lose this seat, where will I go? How will I raise my child? And I will go home not because of anything but the roads. In fact, the people of Elementaita say they sympathise with me, which is true, and that they will never elect a young person again.
The youthful politician said that, despite his best efforts, it has been difficult for him to even sleep because of frustrations with the executive. Nene said his dedication to serve his electorate remains the same as it was when he was campaigning for the seat.
He attributed some of his tribulations to the criticism of the executive, which he argues has not been effective in distributing development across the 55 wards of Nakuru County.
"The mandate I have been given by the constitution is to come here, budget for resources and do oversight, which I have done. I want someone to tell me what I have failed to do. Out of the KSh 11 million allocated to my ward for development, only KSh 4.5 million has been spent. The machines that were doing the roads were recalled. Nothing is going on in my ward, and that is the truth," said the ward rep.
The MCA said he has been receiving insults and threatening messages from his electorate, who feel he has failed and disappointed them despite the "sympathy and trust" they extended to him in 2022.
"I came here when I had no health issues, but now I can attest that it is not difficult to get some of these complications. I feel like crying because when I asked for this job, I had just left school in third year, and I had good intentions. I wanted to work for the people of Elementaita, but I don't have control over what is happening. I can't go and get money from the county coffers. I can authorise the machines back on the site," lamented Nene,
To make it worse, the youthful MCA said his opponent, a former ward rep, has hired machines to do some roads in the ward to show voters that he has failed in his mandate, making it even harder for him to win the trust of the electorate.
"What will I do? When will the money we allocated for development in our wards be expended? When will the roads be done so that voters can see and consider re-electing us? Just like my colleague has said here, some of us from the rural wards might not find our way back to this assembly, and it is very painful," said Nene.
Source: TUKO.co.ke