Former Senator Cleo Malalah has called for a renewed focus on development and effective service delivery, saying leaders must be judged by the tangible impact of projects on citizens’ lives rather than the mere existence of infrastructure.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Malalah argued that it is not enough for governments to initiate “brick and mortar projects” if such developments do not translate into meaningful benefits for residents.
“Development and service delivery should be the highest on the priority list of any leader worth his salt. It is not enough to have brick and mortar projects if the people do not derive use of the same,” he said.
The former Kakamega County senator observed that many regions continue to struggle with underdevelopment despite years of devolution, singling out Kakamega County as one of the areas that has lagged behind in key development indicators.
He noted that the county, widely referred to as the “Green Jewel,” has over time fallen short of expectations in delivering improved livelihoods, better infrastructure, and efficient public services.
Malalah said there is now a pressing need to “reclaim lost glory” and restore the county’s development trajectory, insisting that leadership must be results-oriented and accountable to the people.
“Kakamega County has lagged behind for long and time is ripe to reclaim the lost glory of the Green Jewel,” he said.
He further signalled political readiness to play a more active role in the county’s future direction, stating: “I am ready and prepared to take our county back to its upward trajectory.”
His remarks are expected to add to ongoing political conversations in Western Kenya, where leaders have increasingly focused on development performance, resource allocation, and service delivery as key campaign themes ahead of future political realignments.
