Minister Kania Pledges to Lobby for New District in Terego

TEREGO – The State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Mario Obiga Kania has pledged to lobby for the creation of an additional district in Terego if re-elected to Parliament in the January 15, 2026, general elections.

Kania, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Terego East County, argued that Terego’s administrative units are oversized compared to some neighboring districts.

“For example, when you look at the whole of Terego compared with some districts around here, it is three times the land area. Its area of 1,163 square kilometres is almost three times that of some districts I don’t want to mention,” Kania told journalists on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

“That means one of the biggest things we have to do is lobby to ensure that Terego, as it is now, is split into two districts: Terego West and Terego East. The framework is already there, and it is a matter of effective lobbying.

“Secondly, when you look at the sub-counties, all of them in Terego are huge, almost equivalent to some districts. We need to lobby for their splitting. Thirdly, the parishes are equally large. In other words, all the administrative units in Terego are oversized, and it is one of my priorities that, in the next five years when the government lifts the ban on creating new districts, I will lobby for these changes,” Kania said.

He emphasized that creating more administrative units would bring services closer to the people, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), health, and education.

“We could not do this earlier because there was a moratorium on creating new districts for good budgetary reasons. First things first, once this moratorium is lifted, we need strong lobbyists in Parliament and Cabinet. Terego deserves this, and I am capable of delivering it,” Kania explained.

The minister also highlighted progress on electricity, noting that the main grid is now available in Terego but has not reached remote areas, small trading centres, health facilities, or all administrative units. He cited Uriama sub-county as an example.

“We need to lobby further, based on refugee infrastructure needs and generally across Terego,” he added.

On water systems, Kania said existing infrastructure in areas like Odupi sub-county needs extension to cover Omugo and three-quarters of Odupi, including upper Imvepi Parish and parts of Omugo like Ndapi.

“These systems were initiated during my tenure, and I am the best person to push for their completion,” he remarked.

Regarding roads, Kania addressed the Manibe-Yumbe route: “Some view this road as separate parts in Terego and Yumbe, but that is wrong. You cannot tarmac only from Yumbe to the Ore River and stop, or from Manibe to Ore and stop.”

He expressed satisfaction that the full road survey has been completed, a key step. The Yumbe-to-Ore section is already under JICA funding with a contractor on site, giving hope that the entire route will be tarmacked in time.

“These are government projects, but I have the capacity to lobby for their completion. That is why I believe I am relevant now to return to Parliament and address pending issues for Terego East and the district at large,” Kania concluded.