The mixed legacy of Umoja 2 Ward MCA Joseph Ndonji

In August 2017, Joseph Ouma Ndonji succeeded Kingsley Odida to become a Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Umoja 2 Ward.

Umoja 2 ward covers an area largely inhabited by people who ascribe to the manifesto of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party.

Since taking over, businesses have continued to thrive in and around the once sleepy Umoja 2 Market.

Together with the area MP George Theuri, Donji constructed a state of the art laboratory at the newly created Peter Kibukosya Secondary School. Though most of the construction according to Theuri is funded by the National Government – Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

However, the problem of uncollected garbage continues to bedevil this ward.

At the intersection between Umoja 2 and Umoja 1 wards, there’s a garbage sorting area that is an eyesore and potential environmental disaster for the residents.

The area is covered with plastic, metallic and other hazardous waste, right in the middle of the estate, under the IBER Africa Power (EA) Limited.

No one seems to be doing anything about it.

Of the two best developed wards, Umoja 2 looks more haphazardly arranged, with fewer unblocked drainage due to the few tarmacked intra-estate link roads.

Is this a case of a jubilee legislator ignoring the ‘non-conforming’ areas of the constituency?

Embakasi West, then a part of the larger Embakasi constituency has always been led by a govt-leaning MP, save for 2007 when an opposition MP won, but he was not left to lead.

Mugabe Were was gunned down 32 days after being elected. His killers James Omondi (alias Castro), Wycliffe Walimbwa Simiyu (alias Zimbo) and Paul Otieno (alias Baba) were found guilty of his murder on 9 February 2015. Ferdinand Waititu took over.

Attempts by other opposition politicians in capturing the seat had been hard, the latest scuttled by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) algorithm which saw many legislators get to parliament with a curious 54 per cent lead on their opponents.

Embakasi West which is closer to a town within Nairobi itself, can become a self-sustaining region, complete with good roads, able garbage collectors, clean streets and lighting if the MP becomes serious with his work.

It is commendable that he works with all the MCA’s in the area, but more can be done.

As for Donji, he can start by making sure that no slum grows inside his ward. Theuri should work on removing the slum that is coming up under the IBER Africa Powerlines.