Governor Kihika says unbowed as services grind to a halt

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika. [Harun Wathari, Standard]

Service delivery in Nakuru County has been derailed by petitions filed against vetting and assumption of office by County Executive Committee Members and Chief Officers.

Long queues outside county offices have become the norm with a majority of residents having to turn up for consecutive days hoping to be served.

When Governor Kihika took office on August 25, she sent some of the Chief Officers who served under the previous regime with hopes that she would have her appointees approved and take over soon.

Among the most affected departments include Roads, Lands and Finance dockets whose services are much sought after by citizens leading to the long queues.

"COs in these three departments were sent on leave yet they do the bulk of the functions. Nearly everything is at a standstill. Only the basic services that don't require top-level leadership are being offered," said a senior county official.

But Governor Kihika has said she will not bow to blackmail and change the list of those nominated to her Cabinet.

"I will not succumb to blackmail. There are detractors who are blackmailing me and demanding cash so that they can withdraw the petitions," she said.

"We have eleven constituencies and each got one nominee for the CEC position apart from the one where the deputy governor comes from."

With the rainy season starting, those who reside in rural areas will have a hard time because of poor road networks because no new projects are being undertaken.

When she addressed the county assembly, Governor Kihika said that she will have to prepare a Supplementary Budget to align projects to priority areas in her manifesto.