There was a health scare at Bukhungu stadium yesterday after Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya suddenly fell ill, was forced to take leave to get treated before returning an hour later to the relief of his supporters.
Oparanya had just completed issuing a proclamation that gave authority to 400 newly employed community administrators whose pass out ceremony was underway at Bukhungu stadium when blood started oozing from a supposed wound on his abdomen that stained his shirt.
These prompted an emergency response with two unidentified doctors and a nurse Bilha Matekwa from the Kakamega county general hospital called in to attend to the governor who had now been taken to one of the luxury offices at the stadium’s main stand.
In toe to the restricted basement room was a visibly shaken deputy governor Philip Kutima, county secretary Jacinta Odhiambo, chief of staff Robert Sumbi, the governor security and aides and some county government honchos.
At the main dais, confusion reigned as officials looking distraught paced up and down trying to know the condition of their boss. A ambulance was placed on standby at the main entrance to the main stand as officials waited with bated breath for the doctor’s verdict.
The public was meanwhile kept busy and in the dark as to what was going on for close to one hour by unnecessary announcements and melodious tunes belted by the county government music band.
Finally, the governor re-emerged from the basement affording a smile before he was invited by his deputy to deliver an address to the distraught onlookers.
The governor was presiding over the pass out ceremony to the recruited community area administrators, donation of mattresses, blankets and Sh.2,000 stipend under the shelter improvement program and issuance of driving licenses to 600 Boda boda operators.
Yesterday Oparanya reiterated his administration commitment to implement devolution and tasked the administration to be the coordination pillar between county and national government.
He said the recruitment of community administrators was not a political process urged the officers to be diligent and committed to their work, adding the government expects them to coordinate, manage and supervise governance functions in their area.
