“Vote Local,” Lamu Women Leader Urges, Blaming Non-Indigneous Leaders for Stalled Development

By Reporter

Lamu Women Alliance Executive Director Raya Famau has urged Lamu residents to only vote in local based leaders in the upcoming 2027 election.

The human rights activist who was speaking in a public forum held in Amu Island stated that Lamu has over the past elections been voting in leaders who mostly live and have their home base in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kilifi and may not be familiar with the problems affecting Lamu residents.

“The biggest leadership challenge in Lamu, stems from Lamu residents always voting in candidates from other counties who are not be familiar with the issues affecting Lamu residents,” she opined.

Famau further added that most of the leaders who are not primarily Lamu residents are the cause as to why Lamu, continues to drag behind legislatively and economically due to the leaders failing to promote equitable distribution of resources to the county.

She argued that this disconnect directly translates to poor representation and a failure to advocate effectively for the marginalized county further questioning the ability of an non-indigenous leader to fight for equitable resource distribution in a locality he/ she is not familiar with.

“How do we expect a Mombasa resident to argue for equitable distribution of funds to the county that has been marginalized for so long, if they are not familiar with the history of what ails Lamu in the first place,” she said.

Raya Famau, has revealed that she will be gunning for the Lamu Women Representative seat in 2027, for which she has expressed optimism that she can win based off of her track record.

The activist attributed Lamu’s stunted development to a pattern of “outsider” candidates who, she claims, descend upon the county with ample campaign funds but vanish after winning elections, leaving behind unfulfilled promises.

“It is high time Lamu residents vote in leaders that are familiar with issues affecting them such as the need for better road infrastructure, job and business opportunities, rather than vote in leaders who are all are flash no substance,” Raya said.

She further urged residents to consider voting in leaders who not only live within their communities and share their experiences but also those with proven track records within their various constituencies.

Famau said that development in Lamu has largely been handicapped due to non-indigenous candidates coming in from other counties with only campaign money and then leaving just as fast when they win the elections.