Maeni Ward Aspirant Calls for Unity to Drive Development

By Nyanza Emmanuel - On a recent Saturday morning in Maeni Ward, Kimilili Constituency, Bungoma County, Abdul Aziz Mulama was in the market, not to campaign, but to join a group of residents in clearing blocked drainage after heavy rains. Shirt sleeves rolled up, shovel in hand, he worked alongside boda riders, shopkeepers, and schoolchildren.

Scenes like this have become more common since Aziz, 29, announced his bid for the Member of County Assembly (MCA) seat in the upcoming 2027 general elections. For some residents, his presence is a welcome change from the quieter, less visible leadership they say they’ve grown used to.

Maeni Ward sits in the northern part of Kimilili Constituency, with a mix of bustling trading centres and rural villages. While agriculture and small businesses are the backbone of the local economy, residents point to persistent challenges, poor road conditions, underfunded schools, unreliable water supply, and high youth unemployment.

“I’ve seen young people leave for Kitale or Bungoma town because they can’t find work here,” says Jane, a shop owner in Maeni. “Whoever leads us next must address that.”

From Volunteer to Aspirant

Aziz grew up in Maeni, attending local primary and secondary schools before pursuing further studies. Over the past few years, he has organised clean-up drives, mentorship talks in schools, and youth forums on small business skills.

He says his decision to run for MCA is an extension of that community work. “Leadership, to me, is about solving problems with the people, not for them,” he explains.

Among the youth, Aziz enjoys noticeable support. Patrick, a boda rider in Kimilili, describes him as “the kind of leader who stops to greet us, hears our problems, and actually follows up.”

But not everyone is convinced. “He’s promising a lot, but politics here is tough,” says Musa, a vegetable trader. “We’ve seen good people change after getting into office. Let’s see if he will be different.”

What He Wants to Tackle

Aziz says his priorities include improving feeder roads, expanding access to clean water, and working with health partners to boost services at local dispensaries. 

He also talks about creating digital training spaces for youth, forming women-led cooperatives, and lobbying for more bursary funds for students from low-income families.

Some of these ideas, like cooperative groups, he has already begun piloting informally with a small number of women traders in Maeni market.

With two years to go before the elections, Aziz’s challenge will be maintaining momentum while turning early community projects into visible, lasting change.

For now, he remains a regular face in the ward, at the football pitch, in the market, or at a school debate. Whether this approach will translate into political victory is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Abdul Aziz Mulama has put himself at the centre of Maeni Ward’s conversation about what kind of leadership it wants next.