ADVERT 
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi has challenged Siaya County residents to reject leaders who have failed to deliver meaningful development, arguing that the region cannot afford another cycle of ineffective leadership while the rest of the country continues to advance.
Speaking on Saturday at Karapul, on the outskirts of Siaya town, during the funeral of the late Mzee Esau Oyiro Ogeya, Wandayi said political leadership remains the bedrock of economic transformation and called on voters to make performance the defining issue in the next General Election.
The Cabinet Secretary criticized what he described as “trial-and-error” politics, saying Siaya deserves leaders capable of accelerating development rather than slowing it down.
“Politics is the foundation for development, and we cannot afford the trial-and-error games,” Wandayi said, adding that he would actively campaign for the removal of leaders who have failed to meet the expectations of the people.
ADVERTHis remarks are expected to add fresh momentum to the growing political debate in Siaya, where questions over leadership, development and accountability have increasingly dominated public discourse ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Beyond politics, Wandayi highlighted a major infrastructure investment aimed at transforming the county’s economic prospects through expanded electricity access.
He announced that the national government has allocated Sh2.2 billion for an ambitious rural electrification programme that will connect more than 25 villages across Siaya County to the national power grid.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the investment is designed to improve access to electricity for households, schools, health facilities and businesses, while stimulating economic activity and creating opportunities for local enterprises.
The electrification project is also expected to enhance agricultural value addition, support small and medium-sized businesses and improve access to digital services in rural communities, reinforcing the government’s broader agenda of expanding energy access as a driver of inclusive growth.
Wandayi urged residents to support development-oriented leadership that prioritizes service delivery, infrastructure and economic empowerment, insisting that sustained progress can only be achieved through accountable governance and visionary political leadership.
His twin message of political accountability and infrastructure investment underscores the growing emphasis on linking leadership performance to tangible development outcomes as Siaya positions itself for the next phase of economic transformation.
