My boss out to frustrate me but I am no coward, says Laikipia deputy governor

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu

Laikipia Deputy Governor Josephat Gitonga has hit out at his boss, Governor Joshua Irungu, for allegedly sidelining him in the running of county affairs.

Mr Gitonga said he had not talked with the governor for the last six months and efforts to reach out to him had failed.

"We should join hands and work for the good of the county," he said.

Gitonga noted that the Water and Natural Resources docket was taken away from his office to 'frustrate' him, but vowed to fight attempts to intimidate him out of office.

Gitonga also raised the red flag over alleged wanton destruction of vegetation and logging in riparian areas.

"Today, we hear trees are being cut along riparian areas. That was not happening when I was in charge of the docket," he said.

But in a swift rejoinder, County Inter-governmental Co-ordinator and Donor Liason Officer Lantano Nabaala dismissed the claims, saying the governor and his deputy always met at executive meetings.

He said they also talked by phone since the deputy governor represented the governor at various forums.

'Special meeting'

"Last week, he represented the governor at a retreat with the executives committee members at a hotel in Mombasa. But maybe he wants a 'special meeting' with the governor," said Mr Nabaala.

The officer also said development projects in the county had stalled since July following the freeze of development accounts for all counties.

"We cannot develop when our funds and those of other counties have been frozen by the courts" said Nabaala.

On the moving of the Water and Natural Resources docket, Nabaala said: "The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution advised that we could only have a maximum of eight county executives secretaries."

Mr Irungu is said to be representing the Council of Governors' Natural Resources Committee in a meeting in Peru.

Gitonga, who spoke at a rally at Nanyuki Stadium over the weekend, claimed that unlike other counties, Laikipia has lagged behind in development despite its vast natural resources and high tourism potential.

"I am not a coward and he (Irungu) should know he is frustrating the electorate, not me," he added.

He also tore into the county assembly, saying it had failed its constitutional duty to oversee the county government.

Mid this year, the Assembly's Committee on Oversight said most of the 2013-2014 annual reports tabled by county executives showed evidence of incompetence and recommended their sacking.