Residents of Kisa West have welcomed the government’s efforts through the Interior Principal Secretary, Raymond Omollo, to decentralise essential services, saying the move will save them the money and time they previously spent travelling long distances to access government offices.
Speaking during a community engagement in Bama Dohosa Location, residents said accessing documents such as birth certificates and national identity cards had been a major challenge, forcing some to travel to Butere to receive assistance.
One resident explained that the cost of travelling to access services added an extra financial burden on households, particularly when residents had to make several trips to complete the process.
“We have suffered a lot when it comes to birth certificates and IDs. We used to travel to Butere, and from here to Butere is far. You spend a lot of money on something small that you could otherwise get for free,” the resident said.
The resident added that transport expenses, coupled with other costs incurred during the trips, made it difficult for some community members to access basic government services.
Residents said the establishment of a government service centre in Bama Dohosa Location would reduce the distance they had to cover and make government services more accessible.
Residents Welcome Establishment of Local Government Offices
Another resident praised the PS Omollo for taking government services closer to the community, noting that some residents could not afford to travel to Nairobi to seek assistance from government offices.
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The resident said the visit had given the community an opportunity to interact with government representatives and raise issues affecting households in the area.
“We are happy as residents of Kisa West that the Principal Secretary has brought services closer to the people. Imagine, some of us cannot manage to travel all the way to Nairobi, but he has come to meet us and even visited our homes,” the resident said.
Residents described the move as an important step towards improving access to public services, particularly for families living far from major administrative centres.
They also welcomed the government’s engagement with local communities, saying bringing officials closer to residents would make it easier to communicate challenges and seek assistance.
Residents Raise Security Concerns to PS Omollo as Police Station Project Begins
Security was another issue raised during the community engagement, with residents welcoming the planned police station in Bama Dohosa Location.
One resident said the area had experienced insecurity in the past and expressed hope that the establishment of the facility would improve police visibility and response to incidents.
“I believe opening that police station will increase security because I know more Administration Police officers and Kenya Police officers will be deployed there. With regular patrols, insecurity will reduce,” the resident said.
The resident noted that having security officers stationed closer to the community would make it easier for residents to report incidents and seek assistance.
Community members expressed hope that the police station would be accompanied by additional officers to strengthen patrols and improve security coverage across the area.
Village Elders Appreciate Government Vehicles
Village elders also praised the government for providing them with vehicles, saying the initiative had improved their ability to perform administrative duties and communicate with local leadership.
One of the elders said previous administrations had not adequately recognised the role played by village elders in grassroots administration.
However, the provision of vehicles had made it easier for them to reach chiefs and assistant chiefs whenever issues arose in their respective areas.
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“Previous governments never remembered village elders. But the government we have now has remembered us and provided us with vehicles. We no longer experience many difficulties because whenever we have an issue, reaching the chief or assistant chief has become easier,” the elder said.
The elder added that the vehicles had improved their standing within the community, making residents feel that their role in local administration was being recognised.
He also called for balanced development across the country, mentioning Central, Nyanza, Western, Coast and North Eastern regions.
Further, the resident praised PS Omollo for visiting the community and explaining the government’s development agenda, saying the engagement had strengthened residents’ understanding of the administration’s programmes under President William Ruto.
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