MIGORI: Residents of Muhuru Bay in Nyatike Sub-County have voiced strong dissatisfaction with their Member of Parliament, Tom Odege, accusing him of intentionally neglecting the area’s development due to past voting choices.

The community’s outcry follows President William Ruto’s four-day development tour of the Nyanza region.

Despite the President’s visit, locals expressed disappointment that the long-stalled Muhuru–Masara Road was not prioritized or given the urgent attention they had anticipated.

The road project has stalled for several years despite continuous pledges from successive political leaders.

As a result, the community continues to suffer from poor transport networks, a decline in local business activities, and severe barriers to reaching essential services.

Residents allege that MP Odege has failed to advocate for their development needs before the national government, claiming he has favored neighboring areas that offered him stronger electoral support.

One resident claimed that Odege openly expressed frustration with Muhuru voters over electoral outcomes, attributing the lack of local infrastructure to these political dynamics.

“Ataki watu wa Muhuru. Anasema watu wa Muhuru hawajampatia kura, na anasema hana haja na Muhuru. Na hiyo ndio sababu Got Kachola iko barabara inaendelea. Barabara inaendelea kutoka Osani mpaka karibu hapa Nyakweri. Barabara inaendelea, Masara Road inaendelea. Upande hii ya South Nyatike hakuna kitu kinaendelea.”

Locals pointed out a sharp contrast between Muhuru and other parts of Nyatike where road projects are actively progressing, arguing that South Nyatike has been largely ignored despite the C13 road traversing the area.

Fish traders and transport operators suffer losses

For local fishermen and fishmongers, the dilapidated road has directly threatened their livelihoods by ruining the quality and marketability of their catch.

Transporting fish from Muhuru to the primary markets in Migori now takes an excessive amount of time, often leading to spoilage and forcing traders to sell their produce at heavily discounted prices.

“Samaki zetu kikitoka hapa kwenda Migori unachukua muda mrefu. Na saingine unaanza kutoka na huku fresh, samaki fresh, ukifika kule Migori muda umechelewa samaki inakuwa imeoza, bei yake pia inakuwa duni.”

The hazardous road conditions have also posed serious risks to motorcycle (boda boda) operators, who frequently encounter dangerous potholes and struggle to navigate safely alongside heavy trucks.

Escalating health concerns and appeals to the president

Beyond the economic fallout, residents emphasized that the road’s poor state has created an escalating public health crisis.

Heavy dust from the unpaved sections poses continuous respiratory risks to residents and commuters, while transport delays jeopardize emergency medical evacuations.

A female resident highlighted the critical danger facing expectant mothers and patients requiring urgent emergency care: “Kwa mama, wakipelekwa hospitali gari hawezi kufika haraka haraka kwa sababu barabara. Sasa watu wanakufa ovyo ovyo hapa Muhuru kwa sababu ya barabara.”

Appealing directly to the Head of State, residents urged President Ruto to step in and fulfill past infrastructure commitments.

“Tunaomba Rais… watu wa Muhuru tunaomba lami ikuje… Tunaomba na ile yenye ulituahidi ikuje Muhuru. Tunataka lami, Mr. President. Mimi kama mkazi wa Muhuru tunaona vibaya, watu wanakufa.”

Residents also raised alarms regarding an emerging disease in the area, warning that delayed transport hampers patients’ ability to reach referral medical facilities in Migori in time. These specific health claims, however, could not be independently verified.

MP silent on allegations

The community is now requesting President Ruto to provide a clear roadmap regarding the completion of the Muhuru–Masara Road and help bring an end to years of infrastructure neglect.

The accusations leveled against MP Tom Odege remain assertions by local residents and have not been independently verified.

Efforts by journalists to contact MP Odege for comment regarding the claims of political bias, the stalled road project, and the health concerns raised by residents yielded no response by press time.

Muhuru residents maintain that basic infrastructure, healthcare access, and market connectivity are fundamental rights that should be granted to all citizens regardless of political affiliation or electoral outcomes.