Why Barchok isn’t finding it easy to settle in top seat

When Governor Hilary Barchok (pictured) was sworn in to take over from the late Joyce Laboso on August 8, leaders in Bomet fell over one another praising him as a loyal servant of the people.

They also said his ascendancy to governorship would guarantee continuation of Laboso’s dream of transforming the county, and promised him their unequivocal support.

Three months later and faced by four key challenges, Dr Barchok is wearing a brave face as he juggles between reorganising his Cabinet, fixing crises in healthcare, dealing with alleged highhandedness in handling staff issues and planning how to defend the seat in 2022.

The governor, whose relationship with some MCAs and MPs has been frosty, ran into more headwinds a week ago when Senator Christopher Lang’at openly criticised his leadership style.

From poor health services, acute shortage of doctors, introduction of levies on boda boda raiders and an incomplete county executive, Barchok has not had it easy.

A few weeks after taking the reins of power at Bomet Green Stadium, the governor underwent baptism by fire when the county assembly rejected six executives he had re-appointed to his government.

Quorum hitch

At least 37 MCAs rejected the nominations for various reasons, including “high handedness, incompetence, presiding over implementation of shoddy work leading to loss of taxpayers’ money, laziness and poor leadership.”

Barchok, who has been working with four executives and could not convene a Cabinet meeting due to a quorum hitch, was forced back to the drawing board. He picked three other nominees and submitted the names to the assembly for approval.

He overcame the hurdle when the Employment and Labour Relations Court cleared the way for him. However, one position in the executive is yet to be filled.

And now a fresh war seems to be shaping up between the governor and his senator.

Senator Lang’at vows to keep Barchok on his toes, saying he has failed to steer the county as he pledged during his inauguration.

“As the senator for Bomet, I cannot sit back and watch Barchok mismanage the county,” he said when asked to explain his sudden attack on the governor.

The row started when Lang’at accused the governor of turning a blind eye to the suffering of patients at Koiwa Health Centre, saying the condition of the facility was wanting due to a collapsed wall.

He said a temporary fence put up by the previous regime had fallen apart and the county was ignoring calls to put up a perimeter wall.

Lang’at also cited lack of staff at the health center, saying the county was dragging its feet on recruiting more doctors.

The senator accused the executive of highhandedness against health workers.

“We have senior staff at the county who go round harassing health workers and if they do not change I will personally go for them,” Lang’at said.

He also questioned the move by the county to tax boda boda operators and erect cess barriers.

He said the county had failed to support the riders as promised by Laboso and instead introduced taxes.

Barchok, however, dismissed the senator, accusing him of overstepping his mandate.

“I do not want to believe that Senator Lang’at does not understand his mandate. He should stick to his oversight role and leave the day-to-day management of the county affairs to the executive,” he said.

The governor said all the issues about staffing in the health department, the condition of the health facilities and the plight of boda boda riders are just a smoke screen.

He accused the senator and some local leaders of trying to stir up a political storm ahead of the next General Election.

“People take my silence for weakness but they are wrong and with time the harsh reality will hit them,” said Barchok.

He dismissed his detractors as noisemakers keen on seeking attention and diverting his focus from his development agenda.