OBAMBO, Kisumu West, November 8 –An Anglican clergy member has kicked off a storm by questioning the relevance of the broad-based government to the Luo community, stating that the hoi polloi (average person) in the region are still struggling to make ends meet.
Reverend Charles Ong’injo, head of the Diocese of Maseno South, noted that many individuals from the area continue to face economic hardships, despite being part of a broad-based government.
He made these remarks during the funeral service for Engineer-Contractor Hannington Juma Raburu the former director of Gogni Rajope Construction Limited, at Obambo Primary School in Kisumu West Sub-County.
Rev Ong’injo commented, “I hear that the country’s treasury has been moved to Homa Bay County, where all funds are now kept.”
He emphasised that it is meaningless to discuss a broad-based arrangement while people are still suffering economically.
“Should it be called broad-based, bread-based, government-based, or whatever name you choose?” he posed.
The cleric also pointed out that many contractors in the country who have completed professional work are still awaiting payment, leading to distress among those affected.
He noted that numerous contractors who have worked for both national and county governments are currently suffering due to unpaid dues.
Following Eng Juma’s death, various theories have emerged, with some alleging that he died by suicide. Witnesses reported that he jumped from the second floor of the mall after arriving on a Thursday morning.
According to security personnel at the mall, they revealed that; “After parking, he returned and handed over the car key so his son could pick up the vehicle. Shortly after, he went back into the building and then jumped from the second floor, dying instantly.”
The police were called to the scene and moved his body to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) mortuary pending a postmortem examination. The police have initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
However, Rev. Ong’injo dismissed the suicide claims and cautioned those who quickly turned to social media, warning of serious consequences under the recently passed cybersecurity laws by President William Ruto.
“Who among you is ready to pay a fine of Sh5 million?” he quipped.
While calling for swift investigations into the circumstances surrounding his untimely death, the Engineers Board of Kenya described him as an industrious, entrepreneurial spirit who symbolised great hope for Kenyan engineering.
“He led socio–economic transformation of the country: driving infrastructure development and upgrade, and job creation. Eng Juma was a great example of a Kenyan locally driven engineering success story, competing in a global space fiercely contested by global multinationals,” reads the board’s statement released a week ago.
Also present at the burial were legislators Rosa Buyu (Kisumu West) and Aduma Owuor (Nyakach), along with several engineers from across the country. Engineer Juma was remembered as a generous person who helped numerous community members.
Several engineers in attendance expressed their frustration with the “KRA for messing them up.”
They urged the government to urgently streamline tax regulations for the benefit of all Kenyans.
