Nominated senator declares bid for Nakuru governor’s seat

Senator Paul Njoroge Ben, the lawmaker who hit the headlines last week when he brandished a gun in Naivasha Town following a dispute over the running of a petrol station, has declared how will contest for the Nakuru gubernatorial seat on a Kanu ticket.

Mr Njoroge said that Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has failed to fight corruption in his administration since he was elected in 2013, claims that the governor has denied.

Speaking at his Maraigushu home in the outskirts of Naivasha Town, Mr Njoroge said Governor Mbugua does not deserve a second term and urged residents to give him a chance to clean the mess in the county.

“Nakuru County needs a fighter like me who is not coward to take on the corruption cartels in the county government,” said the 56-year-old first-time lawmaker who represents the disabled in the Senate.

He said his decision to vie for the governor’s seat was driven by the increasing outcry by the residents over the lack of any meaningful development despite the county receiving more than Sh44 billion from the national government.

GHOST WORKERS

“As a person born and brought up in Nakuru County, I am disturbed that billions of shillings which I tirelessly negotiate on behalf of my county are not changing the lives of the residents in the spirit of devolution,” said Mr Njoroge.

He said the Kinuthia Mbugua administration is home to hundreds of ghost workers who are the main source of embezzlement of public funds.

“I have raised this matter with Mr Mbugua but he seems not to have an answer and since I have an answer that is why I want to become the next Nakuru County governor,” said Mr Njoroge.

MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES

He said top on his agenda would be making sure all the marginalised communities have a share of the county cake “unlike today when only two dominant communities form the county government”.

“Nakuru is the face of Kenya, and I will strive to make sure all the 42 communities residing in the county have a fair share of the devolution cake,” said Mr Njoroge.

He said the upgrading of the dilapidated road network in the county, provision of clean water and improvement of sanitation, agriculture and job creation for the youth will also be given top priority if he is elected.

Mr Njoroge said that hawkers and other small-scale traders are overtaxed by the county government while not offering services to enable them operate in a conducive environment.