Residents put county officials on the spot

Vihiga, Kenya: The county government is under fire from residents who have questioned a decision by county officers to receive the governor at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The angry residents took to social media blasting officials who allegedly travelled to Nairobi on Wednesday to receive Governor Moses Akaranga who has been on a seven-day tour of Israel.

What is it that is so special that he (the governor) has to be received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by nearly half the work force of Vihiga county?” posted Mwana Igamihi on a popular county forum.

He continued: “Ask yourself, what can you do with Sh3.5 million? I know what it can do. It can be used to send 20 bright orphans to Mbale boys for four years or Keveye girls. Why is it that when people are struggling to send orphans to school, public servants are plotting on how to steal from the poor?”

Majority of those who posted their comments said if indeed the governor needed to be received, then it should have been at Kisumu International Airport, and even then not by all executives and chief officers.

However, speaking to The Standard Deputy Governor Caleb Amaswache said the officers who travelled to Nairobi were on official duty, adding that majority remained in the county.

NOT TRUE

“It is all lies. Many officers have been in the county serving residents and it is very wrong to allege that all of them have travelled to Nairobi to receive the governor from his tour,” he said.

The deputy governor said only the Chief of Staff, Gaylord Avedi, travelled to Nairobi to receive the governor, adding that the two county ministers who were in Nairobi on official duty have since returned to region.

Mr Amaswache also said the bee hive of activity, normally found at the county headquarters and which have subsided substantially in the past week, are usually caused by residents who come to see the governor.