Political rivalries in Suna West Sub-County have escalated into an explosive confrontation following the destruction of a ceremonial foundation plaque at Nyamaraga Sub-County Level 4 Hospital (formerly Nyamaraga Dispensary).

The incident, which disrupted a planned groundbreaking ceremony for a Sh50 million outpatient facility, has laid bare deep institutional, political, and financial fractures within Migori County.

The altercation triggered a fierce war of words.

While Suna West Member of Parliament Peter Masara accused the county executive of political sabotage and neglect, senior county officials, youth leaders, and gubernatorial hopefuls fired back with a devastating broadside, accusing the lawmaker of financial opacity, cosmetic infrastructure projects, “political laundering,” and lawlessness.

Addressing residents and journalists shortly after the altercation at the hospital grounds, Masara attempted to distance the project from county government funding.

He asserted that the planned Sh50 million, one-storey modern outpatient department is a National Government initiative executed through the Ministry of Health.

“First, it is not a theatre. Today, we were to launch a groundbreaking ceremony for a modern outpatient department with one floor. The total cost is around 50 million, being done by the Ministry of Health,” Masara stated.

According to the lawmaker, he lobbied President William Ruto directly at the Kisumu State Lodge for the allocation after discovering that Governor Ochilo Ayacko’s administration had omitted the facility from county budget documents.

However, the MP’s claims have been thrown into serious doubt.

Revelation

Reports obtained by Kondele News reveal that the construction of the facility was officially procured under the County Government of Migori.

This revelation directly contradicts the lawmaker’s claims of national funding and raises a critical accountability question: will the MP account for or return the Sh50 million he claims to have secured from the President for the project?

Adding to the confusion, Masara made passing references during his press address claiming the Safaricom Foundation was constructing the facility.

Yet, no representatives, corporate branding, or official correspondence from the foundation were present at the site.

Masara further noted that the land was donated by the local Mennonite Church and belongs to the community rather than the county executive, justifying his decision to engage local elders for the site handover.

The MP then launched a scathing attack on Governor Ochilo Ayacko’s administration, alleging long-standing neglect of the facility.

“For the last four years, the Governor has never stepped into this facility. For the last two months, the electricity bill has not been paid… They are using candles. And then, when a big project is brought, now they are bringing chaos.”

Political laundering

Following the altercation, Migori County UDA Youth Leader, popularly known as Wuon Osama, condemned Masara’s handling of public funds, specifically targeting the constituency’s school infrastructure projects.

He accused the MP of engaging in “political money laundering” by performing minor repairs on existing classrooms while falsely claiming he had constructed new ones from the ground up at exorbitant costs.

“The funds set aside for local developments, including projects in Suna West and school funding allocations, must be accounted for transparently. We reject attempts to use development funds for personal political gain or political laundering. I am completely tired of the money laundering and financial games the lawmaker is doing in Suna West!” he stated.

“Instead of constructing new classrooms for our children, Masara goes around merely repairing old classrooms within Suna West constituency, painting over cracks, and later claiming that he has spent millions of shillings in the complete construction of new schools.”

The youth leaders statements aligned with sharp criticisms previously voiced by former Migori lawmaker Pamela Odhiambo, who is currently eyeing the Migori gubernatorial seat.

Politics of deceit

Dr Odhiambo earlier accused Masara for engaging in superficial, cosmetic development designed to fool voters while leaving learning conditions in abysmal shape.

She pointed out that the MP’s office routinely repaints exterior walls and replaces iron sheets on old school structures while ignoring hazardous interiors.

“You cannot claim to be developing schools in Suna West by simply painting the outside walls of classrooms and changing roof iron sheets, while the floors on the inside remain completely unpaved, dusty, and broken like a cattle house!” Dr Pamela pointed out.

“Our children deserve proper, newly constructed, dignified learning facilities from the ground up—not cosmetic paint jobs that cost millions on paper while the inside looks like a livestock shed.”

The critique turned intensely personal when Starlet Oduori, Chief Officer for the Department of Special Programs and External Partnerships, took the microphone.

Oduori questioned Masara’s leadership suitability, accusing him of orchestrating drama and fleeing before county executive authorities arrived.

“A lot has been said regarding local development, but as the people of Suna West, this development is exactly what we want. Anyone attempting to block development from coming to Suna West should stay far away! Ashindwe katika jina la Yesu!”

“Mr Masara right now doesn’t even deserve to be called ‘Honorable’ because his mind has completely lost it! He has reached a point where he is almost walking naked in public! When the Governor comes to bring development to the citizens, hospitals, water, maternity units, he, as the area MP, instead of welcoming the Governor and ensuring the community benefits, comes to bring chaos (kisirani) here!”

She added that the lawmaker must respect the leadership of Governor Ochilo Ayacko, emphasizing that Suna West does not belong to him.

CEC Caleb Opondi’s take

Addressing the legal and operational arguments raised by the MP, Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Caleb Opondi, forcefully reminded the lawmaker that healthcare remains a fully devolved function under the County Government Act.

“Governor, you are called a ‘Doctor.’ But the MP for Suna West, I don’t know where he got his doctorate degree that makes him talk like that! We want to state clearly: educated people who went to university and finished their studies know the law. If you are a real doctor, read the County Government Act, which explains that health is devolved and the Governor has the full legal power to inspect, expand, and upgrade county health facilities anywhere across Migori!”

Opondi went on to deliver a stinging rebuke of the lawmaker’s continued hostility, castigating MP Masara as unappreciative of county development projects.

He urged Masara to borrow a leaf from parliamentary colleagues across Migori, such as Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, who consistently welcome the Governor with warmth and respect whenever executive development tours enter their constituencies.

Unlike other parts of the county where inter-governmental cooperation thrives during project launches, Opondi lamented that visits to Suna West are persistently marred by political hostility and calculated conflict initiated by the area MP.

Denouncing Masara’s posture as pure contempt for the electorate and an attempt to treat Suna West as personal property, the Health Chief affirmed that county healthcare personnel remain steadfastly committed to serving residents under Governor Ayacko’s leadership.

He assured the public that the expansion of Nyamaraga Dispensary, including the construction of maternal and child health units, will proceed unhindered by political interference.

To prevent further physical altercations on the hospital grounds, MP Masara announced he would shift his ongoing community engagements to his constituency office while allowing the contractor to proceed with construction works under the supervision of Ministry of Health engineers.