By FLEVIAN GEOFFREY: The four decades of street protests have not offered anything to Nyanza region, Suna West Member of Parliament Peter Masara has said.

The second term lawmaker is in full support of the broad based arrangement saying that it has offfered Luo Nyanza new opportunity to mop development projects.

Masara urged Kenyans to remain hopeful about the country’s economic trajectory.

He assured constituents that economic challenges are not permanent, noting that the government is actively working on interventions, including planned fuel subsidies, to lower the cost of living and fuel price.

Dr Masara listed several ongoing and upcoming state-funded infrastructure projects within Suna West as direct dividends of the region’s  realignment with the national government.

“We have done street protests for over 40 years,” he said adding that, “Now is the time to criticize and influence the government from within so that we can finally realize true devolution and address historical injustices.”

Among the key projects highlighted by the lawmaker include; the ongoing construction of affordable housing units at Piny Oyie,the upcoming launch of the Kababu road construction project, scheduled for next week,the planned tarmacking of the critical Oruba road linking the area to town among other key developments

He emphasized that the broad-based governance model is a calculated strategy to ensure the region is not left behind in national resource allocation.

“This broad-based arrangement is not about surrender; it is about strategic engagement so that our region and our people are not left behind,” he added.

Reflecting on the country’s expanded democratic space under the 2010 Constitution, the legislator pointed out that political figures now enjoy unprecedented freedoms.

He drew a sharp contrast with the past, referencing the political survival of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following his impeachment.

“Before the 2010 Constitution, some leaders like the former Deputy President could have been in jail right now because their utterances are always tribal and divisive,” Dr. Masara remarked, noting that past regimes would not have tolerated such rhetoric without making arrests.

However, the MP cautioned political leaders against abusing the constitutional right to free speech, warning that divisive rhetoric threatens national cohesion.

He urged politicians across the divide to exercise responsibility, stating that the preservation of national unity must override personal or factional interests.

Positioning ODM for the future

On the Orange party, Masara called for absolute loyalty and a smooth transition of strategic leadership within ODM.

While paying tribute to the contributions of the party’s founding pioneers, he stressed that ODM must focus on fortifying its structures to remain a dominant force ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Political analysts view Masara’s remarks as a coordinated effort to rally grassroots support for the government partnership within traditional opposition bastions.

The messaging signals a pragmatic shift among some opposition factions, prioritizing direct access to state resources for development over prolonged political confrontation.

On Migori County politics, the legislator delivered warned the current county leadership, widely interpreted as a critique of Governor Ochilo Ayacko.

He stated that leadership is strictly measured by service delivery, declaring that any leader who has failed to perform must be voted out in the next general election.

“Leadership is all about service delivery,” the lawmaker warned. “If a leader can’t deliver, the only option is taking him home through a democratic way and that is voting them out.”