Split as county votes to move headquarters

Governor Joshua Irungu. (Photo: Courtesy)

By JOB WERU

Rift Valley, Kenya: When Laikipia residents voted in the last General Election and the results were announced, the numerical power of Laikipia West constituency came to the fore.

All the three superior positions, the Governor, Senator and MP were taken by Laikipia West constituency. Laikipia East managed the somewhat ceremonial position of the Deputy Governor.

The numerical strength also manifested itself three weeks ago when the County Assembly passed a Motion that sought to relocate the Executive and Legislation arms to Rumuruti town, which was, during colonial times, named ‘Remote Route’. Six of the 15 MCAs from Laikipia North and Laikilpia East voted against the Motion moved by the House Minority leader Paul Lebeneiyo.

Eight MCAs from Laikipia West and Laikipia North supported the Motion, despite knowing that the former Nanyuki Municipal Council Chambers had been gazetted as the seat of the County Assembly.

The Motion also saw Majority Leader Ephraim Mwangi alias Kamakia vote for the relocation, alongside Tigithi Ward member Beth Waithera Muchiri.

Kamakia and Muchiri are MCAs in Laikipia East constituency. The decision of the House has attracted praise and condemnation in equal measure. In Laikipia East and North constituencies, leaders noted the MCAs erred by proposing Rumuruti as their preferred headquarters.

The blame game is so intense that Nanyuki leaders met recently and decided to protest to compel the government to rescind the decision. Issack Sheikh accused MCAs and other local leaders of showing disunity, which appear to have be directed at the two leaders who voted against the Motion, and also their Laikipia North counterparts, most of whom connect to their places through Nanyuki town.

Major surprise

Laikipia North members’ support came as a surprise to their Laikipia East counterparts, since for most of the members from North, their regions are far much closer to Nanyuki than Rumuruti.

Sheikh said: “We need serious leaders who can tell us what is happening in the House. It’s time we vetted our leaders since we believe they are representing selfish interests rather than those of Laikipia people”.

The concerns have been directed at Governor Joshua Irungu Wakahora, with critics saying he is behind the scheme.

And surprisingly, Irungu differed with his deputy Joseph Kabugi Gitonga, who had already opposed the intended relocation, saying it would deter investors.

Gitonga said relocating the headquarters was not a priority, adding there were more pressing issues. “Many of our roads are in a pathetic state,” said Kabugi, adding that relocating the headquarters was a luxury that Laikipia people could not afford.

Irungu’s office has maintained the relocation was part of the blueprint to open up and develop the region, saying proper planning can be done in Rumuruti.

Mr Lantano Nabaala, the governor’s political advisor, said the town was surrounded by five rivers and even colonialists had earmarked it as the capital of Rift Valley Province, adding the assembly’s decision would not affect other development strategies. TNA official Christopher Maitho, Nominated MCA Catherine Waruguru and veteran politician and businessman David Ngarariga faulted the governor’s leadership, saying Laikipia East has been turned into a spectator in development.

Alleged conspiracy

Speaking during a homecoming party for Ngarariga in Ichuga, the leaders also accused their counterparts in Laikipia North constituency, which was carved out of Laikipia East, of conspiring with their counterparts in Laikipia West to keep off the east.

“It is a conspiracy that is not well meant. We are asking them to come we join hands so that we take major steps that will force the county government to enhance development in the area,” said Maitho.

Maitho said movers of the Motion had claimed that the county government had set aside Sh60 million for construction of offices in Rumuruti. “It is unfortunate. The Sh60 million they intend to spend in relocating the premises could be spent in other development ventures,” he said.

Waruguru warned that despite the move by the County Assembly, the Transition Authority gazetted former Nanyuki Municipal Chambers as the assembly seat.

The youth representative in the assembly regretted that with Rumuruti town as the headquarters, investors would be hesitant to come to the region, since the area is prone to raids, especially by cattle rustlers. Mburu Kamau, who unsuccessfully contested the Laikipia gubernatorial seat, accused the County Assembly of minding their own interests and leaving out the electorate.