The World Food Day celebration in Kambia took an unexpected yet lighthearted turn when Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY), former Member of Parliament for Kambia District, openly expressed his disappointment to President Julius Maada Bio over the lack of electricity during the historic event.
In his address to the gathering, Dr. Yumkella humorously admitted: “Your Excellency, I have disappointed you today because the light did not come on.” His comment drew laughter and applause from the audience, creating a moment of shared understanding amid the serious discussions of food security and agricultural development.
However, Dr. Yumkella went on to assure President Bio and the people of Kambia that he remains committed to ensuring consistent electricity supply in the district. He pledged that: “Next time His Excellency visits Kambia, I will make sure he meets light.”
The World Food Day commemoration, which brought together farmers, government officials, and development partners, focused on strengthening local agricultural systems, promoting food sustainability, and addressing rural infrastructural challenges.
Dr. Yumkella’s remarks, though made in jest, underscored a deeper national concern about reliable power supply—an issue that continues to affect productivity and the quality of life across rural communities. His promise of improvement was met with optimism from the people of Kambia, who continue to see him as a strong voice for development, accountability, and progress in the region.
Furthermore, At a MoICE weekly press briefing, Dr. Yumkella, had once reaffirmed his commitment on the of Kambia’s lack of electricity, stating that the problem in Kambia district was caused by contractor failures/negligence in implementing electrification works and that the contractor (s) has/have been given a strict timeline to finish the works.
At the World Food Day program, he reassured Kambia residents that the government would light-up the township and that steps are being taken to restore reliable supply under the Government’s District Electrification program – the Mission 300 for seven districts which were referenced in a related MoICE program.
The event ended on a hopeful note, with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to advancing Sierra Leone’s agricultural agenda and improving rural livelihoods through collaborative efforts and infrastructural investment.
