Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli staged a night protest in Bungoma town to protest non-functional security lights and the idle KSh25 million ‘Madaraka Flowers’ project, faulting the county government for neglecting public safety infrastructure.
Speaking to the press in Bungoma town after the peaceful protest on Sunday February 8, 2026, the Ford Kenya Senator said that he received numerous complaints from traders and locals about the faulty security lights in the county.
“This night inspection was informed by numerous complaints from traders, boda boda riders and locals who claim their lives are in danger due to the faulty lights in the county,” he noted.
Further, Wakoli poked holes in the KSh25 million Madaraka flowers project that was meant to beautify the town. He faulted the Bungoma county government for spending KSh 25 million on flowers and later neglecting them.
“During the 2024 Madaraka day, Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka told us that his government spent Sh25 million on flowers for town beatification but after that the project was abandoned and there is no single flower in town,” he said.
He argues that traders and boda riders operating in darkness raises a security concern.
“Due to this darkness in town, all theft cases have been levied on boda riders because they operate till late hours but in real sense not all bodas are criminals,” he stated.
However, Wakoli cited areas of Kanduyi to Salama bakery as an area in darkness.
“During my inspection on Sunday night, I noted that several security lighting poles had collapsed and remained unrepaired, despite posing a serious risk to residents,” the senator said.
He added, “It is unacceptable that such hazards are left unattended while insecurity continues to rise.”
He further revealed that many mulika mwizi lights installed across various estates were non-functional, leaving large sections of residential areas in darkness.
According to Wakoli, the failure of the lighting system has exposed residents to increased cases of theft and insecurity, particularly at night and undermined the very purpose for which public funds were allocated.
“We thought Bungoma would be lit for the rest of the days as it was during Madaraka day, did Madaraka go with the lights?” he posed.
Wakoli called on the relevant department to move with speed and ensure that the faulty security lights are repaired arguing that the business community is paying taxes and there are allocations from the national government towards such projects.
He also cited Webuye, Kimilili, Sirisia and Mateka markets as some of the trading centres plunged into darkness due to non-functional security lights, saying the situation has disrupted night-time business and exposed traders and customers to insecurity.
Wakoli said market traders are forced to close early or operate in fear, despite the markets being key economic hubs that generate revenue for the county.
“The money that was spent during Madaraka day was approved by the county assembly of Bungoma and all the money was spent accordingly,” Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka said.
Further the governor stated that the money approved by the county assembly of Bungoma was spent as follows; Education and Vocational Training Centers Sh 1m, Renovation of DICECE 1m, Roads and public works Sh 24m, other infrastructural Sh6m, billboard and signage Sh 18m, Trade, Energy and Industrialization 13m, Payment of Electricity bill Sh 13m, Lands, urban and physical Sh25m, gender and culture Sh 5m.
Other expenditures were preparation of county handwork Sh5m, youths and sports Sh60m, completion of Masinde Muliro Stadium Sh 60m, Public Service Management and Administration 12m, Catering services (water, juice, soda) Sh4m, Advertising, awareness and publicity (commercial) Sh 1m, Advertising, awareness and publicity (digital communication) Sh1.5m, Advertising, awareness and publicity (jumbo flag) Sh 1m, Advertising, awareness and publicity (miniature flags) Sh 2m, advertising, awareness and publicity Sh 2.5 m and media mobilization and publicity Sh 8m.
