Reclaiming Our Future: Remembering Family Values and Holding Leaders Accountable Without Fear

 Finally, the rains are here, and with them, the beauty of Taita’s land ripens. The once-dry earth has transformed, and the bright orange of "Mchrismas" tree signal a new season of hope. The fertile, untilled land stands green, alive with potential. But as we gaze upon the lush scenery, we are reminded that much of our land has been taken away.

We could spend time blaming our forefathers for what happened, but what’s past is past. The question now is: What are we going to do about it?

Teita Estate is selling off 3,000 acres of land, and we are told we have first priority. This is our chance. Those of us who can, should buy as much land as possible—because it’s in these lands that true wealth resides. This is not just about land; it’s about securing our future. A word of advice from the ancient to the young: if we let this land slip through our fingers again, we won’t blame the past; we will blame ourselves.

Tukutane Mruru, it says. But there’s a growing concern: some neighbors are attempting to take part in what belongs to us, even having the audacity to call it a joke, "Wele huwu kwani wadawida kukaiya na kidombo chawo, kudeda ngadu rawo huwo ni kisaya?, ikadimika wadu wifume wiwone mbari zima, hata ainya!!" In our own backyards, to an extend "wakunde wibonye ngasu rawo dawida, taa! Malagho ki agho!". The land, the heritage, our future is at stake. To those with no understanding of the sacrifices made to keep this land in the hands of the Taita people—do not mistake our silence for weakness.

Change is Hard, but It’s Time for Action

Change is always difficult, but through pain, we will rise. I salute Noel Mwanyika for his consistency in speaking out for the lost lands of Taita. His voice offers a glimmer of hope, a vision for a future where the Taita people can once again stand tall on the land they’ve nurtured for generations. The road ahead is long, but I’ve seen the future, and I tell you—it’s beautiful. But only if Taita men return to their old ways, to our roots.

The way of life that built strong communities, men marrying wives is not a sin!. The modern church may tell us otherwise, but it was the same church brought here by missionaries who took our ancestors from this land and subjected them to untold suffering. On the other hand the modern church is willing to accept same sex relationships that our ancient culture cannot tolerate, How can marrying two wives be a sin, while men marrying men be acceptable, Aiish!! Not by our Mlungu, Not our God!!, but yet still we must rethink the family unit, for our survival. We are too few, and the fight for our future will eventually determine if we live to see it.

A Broken System: The Struggle to Hold Leaders Accountable

Poverty has ravaged our people. When you can’t feed yourself, how can you feed two wives, You ask? We’ve reached a point where we rely on corrupt leaders for handouts. These leaders keep us hooked in a cycle of dependency, and the future looks bleak—too dark to even see.

The solution? We must hold our leaders accountable, especially those who should be working for the people, and where are the MCAs? many are too drunk on both power and, in some cases, the dark liquor, that they’ve lost sight of the very people they are supposed to represent.

The Budget: What’s Going Wrong in Taita Taveta County?

The county’s budget documents raise too many questions that demand answers. Our Governor, Bwana Wakujaa, waits for the government’s share: "Tunangoja mgao wa serikali kuu" and yet you can’t even account for the revenue we’ve collected. Where are the MCAs in all this? The answers we need remain elusive.

Here are some of the discrepancies that show our leaders’ failure to deliver:

• Borehole Projects: Ksh 3,000,000 budgeted for the drilling of a borehole in Mkwachunyi, yet no water was found, and only Ksh 2,065,720 was spent.
• Livestock and Agricultural Inputs: Ksh 5,000,000 allocated for vaccines that were never delivered.
• Public Facilities: Ksh 1,500,000 allocated for the rehabilitation of Maungu Slaughterhouse, yet no work was initiated.
• Water and Sanitation: Ksh 1,000,000 set aside for water tanks in Mwatate Ward, but the tanks remain non-functional due to uncompleted connections.
• Macadamia Processing Plant: Ksh 6,850,000 funds have been disbursed, waiting for delivery and installation.

There are instances where completion certificates and vouchers indicate funds were allocated, but outcomes are missing.

Duplication of Projects.         

1. Livestock Vaccination 2023-2024:

Allocated: Ksh 5,000,000.

Status: Vaccines not delivered due to incomplete payments​

2024-2025: Listed again as "Mass Livestock Vaccination and Branding" with the same budget of Ksh 5,000,000anation provided for non-completion in the previous year.

2. Beehives for Wundanyi/Mbale 2023-2024:

Allocated: Ksh 3,000,000.

Status: Not delivered; funds were not utilized as planned

2024-2025: Re-listed with similar objectives under agricultural development, but specific allocation details are unclear .

3. Renovation of Maungu Slaughterhouse 2023-2024:

Allocated: Ksh 1,500,000.

Status: Contractor failed to initiate work despite funds being allocated

2024-2025 listed as an ongoing project with the same allocation, indicating no progress from the previous year.

The same issues continue to appear year after year. These projects, like many others, show how funds are being misused or left to rot, with little accountability or oversight.

1. Unrealistic Budgetary Gaps

Water and Sanitation Projects
Example: Rehabilitation of Bungule Water Project:
Proposed allocation: Ksh 10,000,000.
Actual allocation: None
Many other projects under this Water and Sanitation received no budgetary allocation despite their listing.

2. Repeated/Questionable Allocation

Road Infrastructure Projects
Proposed works such as road openings, culvert installations, and footbridge constructions (e.g., Ksh 75 million for 100 km of new roads) received no allocation, despite recurring appearances across fiscal years

Agricultural Programs
Multiple initiatives, such as crop value addition and soil conservation, listed with allocated funds in 2024-2025, overlap with projects from 2023-2024 without detailed results from the prior year's funding.

It’s not enough to raise a finger in curiosity; we must speak up and demand answers. I refuse to stay silent any longer—I am silent no more.

As Chávez once said, “Once you educate the people, you cannot make them unlearn.” We have seen the future, and the future is ours. They think we don’t see. But we are faceless, and yet, we see.

gods of Taita Taveta, let’s make it in our own image. Next Thursday, stay tuned for our next episode.  For any queries or information, reach out to us at Voice of Taita Taveta @doctalve or email doctalve@gmail.com.