BURETI DISTRICT: A PARADOX & NEED FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT IN LEADERSHIP.

Bureti district as a matter of fact should be one of the richest agricultural district in Kenya and boasts of several well trained human resource which is the basis of any nation that is in need of serious development.
In terms of Natural resources, the district is endowed with at least two rivers meandering through it and several streams that seldom dry up if ever. The soils are red volcanic that are highly suitable for the growth of tea and other crops such as maize, beans, vegetables, and lucrative livestock production. Persistent and consistent and sure rains are part and parcel of the district. The district moreover, has a good forest cover and several man made tree plantations and pockets of trees in private farms.
Industrially, we have several tea factories and Sotik KCC processing plant. The infrastructure is dilapidated and malnourished so much such that to deliver farm produce to the market becomes a quagmire. This begs the question. Why despite its rich endowment agriculturally and enormous contribution to the Kenyan economy do we still have bad roads? Rainy seasons which are not infrequent make district impassable and making delivery of produce and human traffic a nightmare.
Educationally the district excels coming last to Transmara district in the Rift valley province both in Secondary and primary education. This is the home of schools such as Litein, Tengecha, Kaplong, Roret girls, Koiwo, Chebilat, and Cheborgei etc.
The district has produced a galaxy of leaders who are well known in the country.
Notwithstanding all these empowerments and endowments, the district still lacks behind in infrastructure, rural electrification, marked academic backwardness with a pocket of students now joining universities through joint admission board. There is no piped water throughout thus since time immemorial people and livestock and wild animals continue to drink, and bath from the rivers.
Notable in the District is a clear lack of focused and visionary leadership that we now yearn for like never before in the three constituencies of Bureti, Konoin and Sotik.
Bureti is represented currently by Paul Sang who has failed out-rightly to generate a spark that will revitalize the constituency and most right-thinking members of the constituency look to Joseph Kisiara Rotich of Moi University to bring the much desired change which he promises seriously. The learned youthful leader promises a participatory and leadership for all and not that of the rich only.
Konoin constituency is even worse as it has always been represented by intellectually unprepared leaders who have not even a scintilla of what leadership is all about apart from dishing CDF to sycophants and enemies of futuristic projects. It is currently represented by Hon Sam Koech. The constituents are openly optimistic that a celebrated down to earth youthful scholar Dr Kones of Nairobi University, who is poised to win, will be a godsend angel. Dr Julias Kones through his development records have managed to win the hearts of the people. He draws wide support from youths and women in the expansive constituency who most of them have been marginalized.
Sotik has been nothing but a confused constituency in all the spheres of life. Anthony Kimetto a scattered, shattered and tattered legislator who struggles to float is representing it. The constituents expect the youthful Lorna Laboso or experienced Francis Sigey to replace the retrogressive octogenarian.
None of the present politicians has a national clout apart from playing sycophancy and praise singing to other leaders. Most of them support plutocracy. Without these must, life or death emergency changes, the District may soon facing severe leadership malnutrition .We need leaders who are focused and futuristic or else our district will be extinct through natural attrition.
WESLEY KIRUI - KPA