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No brew before 2pm — Onyancha

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Published on Monday, 22 September 2008 19:10

Barely nine months as MP, Charles Onyancha has changed the perception of his role from that of being a source of handouts to a development initiator. The Bonchari MP has pumped money into projects that seek to transform the agriculturally endowed constituency to a development hub.

"We have broken the long held notion that an MP is there to dish out handouts," he says.

Charles Onyancha. Bonchari MP

"The best way to run public affairs is to have some of those who do not agree with you politically in key development committees since it is through them that you will know whether you are delivering or not," says Onyancha.

His short-term plans include providing water and assisting his constituents form a transport cooperative society. Through the society, they will start delivering their farm produce to far-flung markets and keep at bay middlemen who have been exploiting them.

On education, Onyancha says head teachers will have to set their own targets in national examinations, which they must meet or be asked to step down.

"We will not condone lazy teachers. They will have to deliver and those who will not must give way. Such teachers will be replaced by those from outside the region," he warns.

The MP says he will meet the cost of inter-school end-term mock examinations as his personal contribution towards improving education standards.

He adds: "Some teachers are ever busy doing their own things because they are hardly held to account for time wasted," he says.

The MP has met chiefs and the Kisii South DC and they have resolved to scale down drunkenness and idleness. He says there should be time for taking traditional liquors. "We have agreed that there shall be no drinking of alcohol before 2pm or idling at market centres. With this approach, we will have men staying at home to assist their families in tending to farms and livestock," he says.

Onyancha says he will initiate aggressive tea and coffee growing. He will source for funds through the Kenya Tea Development Agency to establish a factory in Ngeri. To ensure lack of tea seedlings does not frustrate his efforts and to have every home grow tea bushes, the MP will soon set up a tea nursery for free distribution of seedlings. A fruits processing factory is in the pipeline within Suneka township to save farmers the agony of looking for markets.

Onyancha went to St John’s Seminary Rakwaro before joining Cardinal Otunga High School. He studied at Strathmore College of arts and Science and London School of Accountancy. He later joined London School of Economics and University of Nairobi for a master’s degree.