Former Migori County Women Representative and 2027 gubernatorial hopeful, Pamela Odhiambo,has challenged local leaders to move away from political tokenism and focus on building sustainable economic infrastructure to alleviate poverty across the county.

Speaking after meeting with the “Enzogu Muungano Welfare” group a community welfare organization representing the Luhya community in Migori at the Kakrao Salvation Army Church, Dr Odhiambo emphasized the urgent need for economic self sustainment.

“The power of economic self-sustainment can change the status quo economically”She stated.

The former lawmaker highlighted the immense agricultural potential of the region, specifically pointing to Kakrao and surrounding areas like Uriri, Suna East, Suna West, Awendo, and Rongo as prime areas for pineapple cultivation.

She envisions transforming Migori into a major processing hub to compete with established agro processing regions.

Dr Odhiambo questioned why the county continues to import fruit juices from other regions like Thika and Kambaland when Migori can produce the “sweetest pineapples in this country.”

If elected governor, she has pledged to drive industrialization by encouraging large scale pineapple farming to attract major manufacturing firms, explicitly aiming to establish a local equivalent of a “Migori County Del Monte.”

She further stated that the initiative is also designed to tackle youth employment by absorbing local university graduates trained in food science and post harvest management.

“By focusing on this currently neglected sector, the project aims to reverse the heavy losses suffered by local farmers who are often forced to sell their crops at throwaway prices.”

Outcry over stalled infrastructure

The candidate did not hold back on the current county administration, addressing heavy criticism from Kakrao residents regarding a stalled local market project that had been launched by the county government.

“Thank God they are already complaining about it, so it is not me. I am also complaining about it on their behalf because this market should have been completed long ago,” she said.

Dr Odhiambo criticized the county’s fiscal management, citing recent budgeting delays and pointing out an imbalance in development spending. She alleged that out of a potential 12 billion shilling allocation, only 3 billion shillings had been dedicated to capital development.

In response to the deadlock of stalled Kakrao market,she revealed that she has escalated requests directly to the President to have the stalled Kakrao site taken over and transformed into a modern, national-standard market facility.

Dr Odhiambo further strongly condemned the political culture of tokenism, where youths and Boda Boda operators are often hired cheaply by politicians just to cause disruptions or attend funerals.

Instead of handing out cash, she noted that she provided the local welfare and boda boda teams with long term utility items, including reflectors, commercial umbrellas to shield operators from harsh weather, and financial checks specifically directed to boost their group investment accounts.

“Tokens are good, but they cannot help you,” Dr Odhiambo told the youth adding that “What can help you is something like this umbrella to extend your hours of doing your business.”

She invited all communities within Migori County to organize into structured welfare and economic units,promising that her incoming administration would focus entirely on structured project partnerships over political handouts.