Ex-cabinet minister Jebii Kilimo during an event at St Lumumba Catholic Church, Tot, in Elgeyo Marakwet on December 19,2025/COURTESYKilimo expressed disappointment that the area has not achieved the much needed development since she left the seat.
She began by outlining her tenure between 2003 and 2013, saying the period was marked by peace along the Kerio Valley and improved stability for local communities.
She added that numerous job opportunities were created, while many young people benefited from scholarship programmes that opened doors to learning institutions around the world.
According to her, the development gains achieved during her time in office speak for themselves.
Speaking at St Lumumba Catholic Church, Tot, in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kilimo told leaders who have been given the opportunity to serve to deliver instead of pursuing their selfish interests.
"Leadership is about service delivery. Most of the leaders elected are pursuing their selfish interests at the expense of helping the people," said Kilimo.
As a peace-maker, the former legislator Kilimo ensured peace prevailed between members of Pokot and Marakwet throughout her 10 year tenure ad Marakwet East MP earning the name “eyaa kalya”, Marakwet word meaning mother of peace.
Additionally, as an avid crusader against FGM, Kilimo was very instrumental in the creation of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act 2011, which criminalises the vice.
The former Cabinet minister regretted that a major irrigation project in Tot area that had been initiated by the Red Cross Kenya in collaboration with the government had been abandoned because of poor leadership, saying the projects had transformed the lives of farmers in the area.
"It is sad that our major irrigation project that had improved the lives of our people having reduced the problem of hunger was abandoned because of poor leadership. It was the responsibility of the MP to ensure the continuity of the project. But because you elected someone who has no interest of the people at heart, the project collapsed, " she said.
And while addressing wananchi at Krell trading centre, Kilimo told the residents to discourage the culture of bribes by some leaders noting that the move ended in the election of individuals with no development track record.
"The people who give you bribes of Sh200, 500, and 1,000 will not be bothered with development initiatives because they know very well that they bought their way to leadership. So they don't care about the problems affecting you," said Kilimo.
She urged the residents in the area to shun leaders who want to divide them on clan basis and instead support those who are serious in matters pertaining to development.
Kilimo praised efforts being done by the government in ensuring peace in the areas recently affected by banditry and cattle rustling activities.
“Let's support the work of our son Kipchumba Murkomen, the Interior Cabinet Secretary in the search for lasting peace in our area. We should not allow some few individuals to disrupt our peaceful coexistence along the Kerio Valley for their selfish gains. We all know that peace is paramount for our development,” said Kilimo.
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