Youth storm Nandi governor's office to demand accountability

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Hundreds of youths stormed Nandi Governor Stephen Sang’s office to demand accountability for projects.

The youths actualised their threats to ‘Occupy Nandi County Offices’ Tuesday, after word went round on Monday in Gen Z social media groups.

They raised concern over alleged delayed implementation of projects, irregularities in employment of county staff and discrepancies in expenditure of public funds.

In what seemed to have taken a cue from recent countrywide demonstrations against the national government, the Gen Z stormed the governor's office with raft of demands.

They came on foot while others rode motorbikes with whistles and waving placards and twigs.

Some youths who spoke to The Standard claimed that Governor Sang's administration has received more than Sh50 billion in the last seven years, but there is nothing to show.

The demonstrations were largely peaceful, and the youths camped outside the governor's office for nearly three hours to seek audience with Sang.

Accompanied by a section of senior county officials, the governor was forced to cut short his official duties to address youths who had blocked the Kapsabet-Eldoret highway.

"I will answer all your questions concerning my administration only if we get organised. We are ready to face Gen Z, and nothing is hidden, public transparency is the key principle in my administration," he said.

The youths cited the stalled governor's office, mother and baby health facility wing, milk processing plant and coffee factory.

Mark Kirwa, said they have to hold the county government accountable, claiming that most projects had become ‘white elephants’ despite consuming millions of taxpayers' money.

"We have written a petition to the county demanding explanation. We need a clear statement on how the county has been awarding tenders. Some beneficiaries are relatives of some officials, a blatant disregard of the law and finance Act," he said.

He claimed that the governor has failed to address the bloated workforce that has burdened the county and derailed implementation of development projects.

"There is no transparency in the County Public Service Board (CPSB), and the executive have deliberately employed their friends. The wage bill has hit over the roof and now consumes over 50 per cent of the county's annual allocation, and it's the reason why things are not working," said Kirwa, who presented the petition to the office of the governor.
 
Caroline Jemutai, a student in one of the local colleges, said the health facilities offer painkillers to patients due to inadequate supply of drugs.

"The only reason is that the county has not paid Kemsa despite the usual promise to prioritise the health sector," she claimed.

Governor Sang who received the petition, absolved his administration from blame.

He claimed that his government, in the first term between 2017 and 2022, inconsistently received annual allocations from the national government.

"That derailed most of the county development, but all projects, including health agriculture among other infrastructures, have been going on. We appreciate that the youths have come forward for dialogue, and my government embraces inclusivity in governance," he said.

The governor promised to give feedback within a week.