Laikipia County divided over decision to shift HQ

Daggers have been drawn among Laikipia leaders after a resolution by the county assembly last Wednesday to shift the county headquarters and county assembly from Nanyuki town to Rumuruti.

Residents of Laikipia West have voiced their support for the decision while those from the eastern part of the county are vigorously opposed to it.

A group of leaders and businessmen led by TNA county chairman Christopher Maitho were contemplating going to court to seek orders to block the relocation, on the grounds that the motion was tantamount to an ambush because there had been no public participation.

“We are going to seek legal redress. The Constitution is very clear — there must be public participation in such crucial decision. The county assembly members merely applied jungle law,” Mr Maitho said.

A task force appointed in 2011 to decide on the strategic location for county headquarters had settled for Mutara trading centre which was said to be more central.