Ukambani MP Tells Canada NGO to Return Boreholes to Canada
In the Mwingi Central constituency within Kitui County, MP Gideon Mulyungi recently addressed a gathering and warned Life Water Canada that the group must involve locals and his office in borehole projects or face demands to leave. The Kenyan lawmaker spoke out against possible corruption risks while residents face severe water shortages that harm farming health and daily needs.
Dust hangs thick in the dry air of Mwingi Central. People gather close under the evening light. Gideon Mulyungi holds the microphone firm. He speaks straight to the Canadian group. Life Water Canada works on water sanitation and hygiene efforts across Kenya and other nations. The MP makes his stance clear right away.
In his speech he states, “Life Water Canada, I want to tell you that this is Mwingi Central in Kitui County in Kenya. “We do not like corruption. You must involve the community in whatever you do, and you must involve the member of parliament who is Gideon Mulyungi. Applause rises from parts of the crowd. Others stay quiet. The moment carries weight in a place where water remains scarce year after year.
Kitui County sits in a drought-prone zone of eastern Kenya. Families walk long distances for every drop. Farmers watch crops wither. Clinics struggle with basic hygiene. Children miss school when they help fetch water. Borehole projects offer real hope for steady supply. Yet the MP insists on full local input first.
He continues during the gathering. If you do not do that, you can take your boreholes back to Canada. Hatutaki. Washindwe washindwe. The words land hard. Some residents clap in support. They see his call as protection against outsiders who might ignore local voices.
Online platforms fill with sharp replies soon after the video spreads. Critics argue the focus on credit slows relief that people need now. Supporters say community oversight stops waste and builds lasting ownership.
Why Did the Kenyan MP Issue This Warning to the NGO
The MP seeks community and office involvement to secure transparency and curb corruption risks in the projects.
Mulyungi represents Mwingi Central and knows the daily strain. Water shortages hit farming output hard. Health centers need clean supplies to treat patients. Daily life stops without easy access to wells or pumps. He tells the group that development must include residents from the start.
Past efforts in the area included plans for tanks and drilling at schools. In early 2024 the same MP had spoken of partnership goals that aimed at many school sites across the constituency.
Now he presses for direct engagement again. The NGO follows a model that promotes local teams and ownership according to its public approach. Still, the elected leader demands his office stay in the loop.
Residents feel the pressure every dry season. Women and children carry jerrycans under the hot sun. Livestock suffer. Markets sell less produce. A steady borehole changes that picture.
It supports irrigation for small plots. It fills tanks for households. It keeps clinics running. Mulyungi frames his demand around those needs. He wants every step open so funds reach the ground and not private pockets.
How Have Locals and Online Users Reacted to the Remarks
Reactions stay mixed as some residents applaud the call for oversight while many online voices criticize the delay in water relief.
Local voices split in the moment. A portion of the gathering cheers the strong language. They back the push for involvement. They want leaders and people to shape the work together. Other Kenyans online push back hard.
They question any stance that might push away aid. One post notes that an educated resident helped bring the group in the first place. Comments call the warning a block on progress.
The divide shows deeper tensions. Aid groups arrive with plans and equipment. Local leaders seek seats at the table. Communities sit in the middle desperate for results.
Life Water Canada operates in several countries with a focus on clean water access. Its work in Kenya targets areas like Kitui where shortages last long. The MP addresses the crowd with firm energy. He repeats the core message.
Involve the people. Involve the office. Otherwise, pack up. The sensory details stay vivid. Red carpet underfoot. Microphone in hand. Evening air thick with dust and expectation. Short statements cut through. Longer ones build the case.
This clash fits a wider pattern across arid counties. Leaders push for say in projects that touch their voters. Donors aim for speed and scale. Residents need both speed and fairness. In Mwingi Central the need stays urgent. Farming families wait for reliable sources.
Health workers need clean water for treatment. Children need time for books instead of long walks. The MP uses everyday language to drive the point. He rejects any process that skips local eyes. He offers a clear choice. Work together or leave the equipment behind.