WUNDANYI

HON. THOMAS LUDINDI MWADEGHU, MP (ODM)

Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu took over the reins of the constituency after breaking a 20-year reign of relatives.Running on an ODM ticket, he floored former area MP Mwandawiro Mghanga, who was a relative of former powerful minister Darius Mbela who served for 15 consecutive years.The 55 year-old accountant‘s win was a major feat but he has a big task ahead. Despite being agriculturally rich, there is grinding poverty in the area. More than half of the population of 60, 000 live below the poverty line."The constituency is agriculturally productive but the potential has not been fully exploited to benefit the locals," says a resident.

Farmers hope that the MP will lobby for the revival of coffee, horticultural production centre and the Taita-Taveta Dairy Cooperative Society.They complain that previous leaders showed no interest in reviving these sectors or supporting farmers. Farmers say they have been left at he mercies of middlemen who exploit them.They have not been paid their dues for coffee and milk delivered to the Coffee Board of Kenya and the local dairy society. The farmers hope the MP will intervene and also repair roads for easy marketing of their products .

Tapping Local ResourcesThe area has some iron ore deposits although residents have benefited little. The MP says he will work with both the Government and private companies to tap the area’s potential.On education, the MP says bright students from poor families will get bursaries.There is also the thorny issue of persistent human/wildlife conflict, especially in Kishushe and Paranga. Mwadeghu says Coast MPs will lobby and push for the quick enactment of the Wildlife Bill to tackle conflict and also ensure residents benefit from the wildlife resources.

"I intend to push the Government to approve a proposal to reclaim 60 per cent of the Sh4.5 billion earned from the Tsavo East and West National Park annually for the benefit of the community," he says.The MP claims Taita and Taveta districts could earn about Sh2.7 billion annually from the Tsavo Park if the Government approves the proposal. Mwadeghu also says he plans to start an eco-tourism project at Ngangao forest to create employment.

Immediate former MP: HON. MWANDAWIRO MGANGHA.

THE STANDARD
By Renson Mnyamwezi