By Arnold Ageta
Nyamira gubernatorial aspirant Walter Chanua has promised residents a new era of equitable development, vowing to prioritize projects regardless of political affiliation or clan.
Chanua, widely considered a top contender for the Nyamira County seat, stated that his experience witnessing development in Narok County, where he is currently based, has prepared him to transform his home county.
“I want to come home and serve my people of Nyamira, who for a long time have been yearning for quality service delivery in vain,” he said.
Addressing Marginalization
Speaking to congregants at the Sengereri SDA Church in Gachuba Ward, Chanua criticized the current leadership for what he termed a lack of essential services. He argued that several regions have been ignored due to clanism and political alignments.
He specifically highlighted Kitutu Masaba, noting that the region has been sidelined by both the national and county governments for years.
“It has become clear that because the governor hails from North Mugirango, Kitutu Masaba has not fully benefited from development.
There is a perception that you did not support him,” Chanua explained. He pledged that, if elected, he would ensure a fair balance of resources across all sub-counties.
Commitment to Public Participation
Central to Chanua’s platform is a commitment to public participation. He emphasized that his administration would not impose projects on the people but would instead listen to their needs.
He announced that he will always use public participation as a way of doing what the residents actually want.
“I will employ this strategy to ensure that I serve the people’s interests, not my own. My goal is to put Nyamira County on the map as one of the best-performing counties in the country.”
Educational Support and Philanthropy
Demonstrating his “people-first” approach, Chanua pledged to clear the 2026 school fees for students from less fortunate backgrounds in both junior and senior secondary schools.
“I understand that when parents send their children to day schools, it is often because they lack the funds for boarding. That is why I want to support them this year,” he told the faithful.
He confirmed that 59 day scholars from Kiogutwa and Sengereri secondary schools would have their fees paid directly to the institutions by next week.
This follows a similar initiative two weeks ago at Kuura Mixed Secondary School. During that visit, Chanua conducted a practical lesson in governance by allowing students to openly identify students who were struggling with arrears and frequently sent home.
“This exercise was deliberate,” Chanua explained. “It demonstrates the importance of prioritizing projects based on community needs, rather than leaders making assumptions about the problems people face.”
Chanua led other local leaders, including Kitutu Masaba constituency aspirant Clive Ogwora, in a fundraiser for Sengereri SDA Church development projects, where he personally contributed over Ksh 100,000.
