November 2010
Governments can – and do – play a critical role in bringing essential services to communities like Matopeni. But political issues can cripple important projects.
Christian Aid’s programme office for governance in East Africa, John Ochola, explains how a challenge to election results for Matopeni’s Starehe constituency halted the local government’s work on a toilet block. Read his diary below:
The project started in early August 2009. They have done some masonry work on the toilet blocks but the steps that go into the toilet, the plumbing, tiling and fittings within the toilet block and the painting have not been completed. The substantive work of finishing the block for it to be used has not been done.
The incumbent MP, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, was elected in January 2008. One of her opponents put an injunction in the high court saying the elections were not done properly. Because of that injunction she was not sure if she was going to maintain or lose the seat so there was no further work on the project.
By-election held
Recently the by-election was held and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru emerged the winner. They have gone through an election process with an independent electoral commission. The people in the area said it was free and fair, and her opponents have accepted that she is now the duly elected MP for Starehe.
Maji na Ufanisi will be talking to the Margaret Wanjiru's personal assistant to chart out the way forward for sanitation facilities within the village.
Political representation
Critically for the community during the election campaign they were able to meet with Margaret Wanjiru to explain some of the issues they felt were of concern for them in this particular area that they live – Matopeni.
People who live in places such as Matopeni do pay taxes to the government so they are entitled to some sort of service provision.
We have a unique opportunity because we have just passed a new constitution and I think people are much more aware now that they need to hold governments, their MPs and duty bearers to account.
