MUHORONI: Muhoroni parliamentary aspirant Robert Nyasuna has come forward to address allegations of relief food diversion following a multi-agency police operation that uncovered a massive consignment of government food aid at his family home in Kisumu County.
Speaking during an interview on Ramogi FM, Nyasuna, who is also a brother to Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, admitted that the food supplies were offloaded at his home overnight, explaining that the arrangement was intended to facilitate direct distribution to local residents the following day.
“I had maneuvered my ways with some officials, and I got a consignment of rice and beans,” Nyasuna stated during the broadcast.
“The intention was to have them stay overnight at our home before finally distributing them to the electorate.”
The recovery of the relief supplies, comprising 300 bags of rice, 250 bags of beans, and 20 bags of composite porridge flour, was conducted by police officers and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives following an intelligence tip-off.
The consignment, which was originally allocated by the State Department for Special Programmes for distribution through the Deputy County Commissioner’s (DCC) office to vulnerable households in Chemelil, was subsequently transferred to National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores in Kisumu for safe custody.
Political rivalry
Defending his actions, Nyasuna claimed that his political opponents collaborated with the local Deputy County Commissioner to intercept the consignment and stir up public controversy.
“That is when some political rivals, in collusion with the DCC, arrived and confiscated the consignment,” Nyasuna argued adding that, “Even if I was to eat, honestly, can I eat 300 bags of rice?”
He further pointed to previous administrative delays in government relief distribution, citing a past instance where aid meant for vulnerable community members was held up at state offices.
“When I first brought a consignment, it stayed at the DCC’s office for two months before reaching the people,” he added.
“This did not make me happy, because there are some friendly people in government who assisted me in securing the relief food.”
Politicizing relief aid
Addresssing critics who questioned how an un-elected parliamentary candidate managed to secure and handle state-level relief supplies, Nyasuna dismissed the concerns as political rhetoric, emphasizing that public welfare should take precedence over political affiliation.
“I am not yet elected, so many people are asking where an aspirant managed to get relief food,” Nyasuna said.
“To me, that should not be an issue because our people need the food. Remember, right now, the Head of State is looking at us to support him in 2027; therefore, we should wholeheartedly allow some of these development efforts to reach our people without unnecessary political rhetoric.”
