Laikipia governor and deputy differ on county headquarters relocation
A section of Rumuruti Town in Laikipia County. The Laikipia county government should not move its headquarters from Nanyuki to Rumuruti until a final High Court verdict in a case before it. PHOTO/FILE.
What you need to know:
- Mr Kabugi on Wednesday cautioned that the relocation of county headquarters would send confusing signals to investors.
- Last week the county assembly passed a motion to shift the seat of the county government and its legislative arm from Nanyuki to Rumuruti town which members said had space for expansion.
- Governor Irungu’s office has however, maintained that the relocation of the headquarters was part of the blueprint to open up and develop the county.
- Senator GG Kariuki of Laikipia has planned a meeting with Laikipia East residents in Nanyuki at the weekend to try and forestall a fallout.
Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu and his deputy Gitonga Kabugi have taken different stands over the planned relocation of county headquarters from Nanyuki to Rumuruti.
Mr Kabugi on Wednesday cautioned that the relocation of county headquarters would send confusing signals to investors.
“We should not be sending mixed signals to our investors whom we desperately need at the moment.
Most investors will hold back their investments as they wait to see what direction the county is taking,” Mr Kabugi said in a statement to the media.
Last week the county assembly passed a motion to shift the seat of the county government and its legislative arm from Nanyuki to Rumuruti town which members said had space for expansion.
But Mr Kabugi said the county government had better priorities such as addressing poor road network, water, rampant human-wildlife conflicts and taking health care closer to people.
Relocating the headquarters was a luxury that Laikipia people cannot afford, the deputy governor said, adding that the debate was not good for the county.
RUMURUTI IT IS
Governor Irungu’s office has however, maintained that the relocation of the headquarters was part of the blueprint to open up and develop the county.
“Rumuruti is a town where proper planning can be done.
It is surrounded by five rivers and even colonialists had already earmarked it as the capital of Rift Valley a long time ago,” Mr Lantano Nabaala, the governor’s political advisor said last week.
He said the decision by the county assembly would not prevent any other development priorities by the county government.
“None will prevent the other from happening. The fact that the county assembly passed the motion does not mean that we are moving there tomorrow,” Mr Nabaala said.
Senator GG Kariuki of Laikipia has planned a meeting with Laikipia East residents in Nanyuki at the weekend to try and forestall fallout in the county leadership over the planned relocation.
The National Alliance party chairman Christopher Maitho said the issue could create a deep mistrust among the residents.
He said the earlier it was addressed the better.
