Former KTN News investigative reporter Dennis Onsarigo has resigned as Nyamira County chief of staff.
Through a letter dated January 10, 2024, seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Onsarigo cited various reasons, from embarrassing toilets, unpaid staff and failure to reach Governor Amos Nyaribo via phone.
“It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation from the position of Chief of Staff office of the Governor Nyamira County,” Onsarigo, who once served as the Orange Democratic Movement press secretary complained.
"The plan to refurbish the office of the governor, and build a modern toilet to save us from embarrassing episodes of panic when we have many visitors paying us a visit was also not a possibility," he added.
Onsarigo claimed that he was frustrated by the washroom renovations which failed to capture key aspects such as running water and could only be used as a urinal for men, side-lining women guests and staff.
Employees were also struggling to work in the unconducive environment.
“I have encountered what would best be described as a deliberate strategy that has imposed itself in the way of service delivery and impeded our ability to fully realize our vision,” Onsarigo complained.
His efforts to rectify major issues within his mandate in the county office were reportedly ignored as the governor refused to give him an audience to discuss the matters.
“I made several attempts- more than six times- to seek an audience with you to discuss an elaborate plan on how best the office of the chief staff would function. Unfortunately, this did not materialize,” Onsarigo added in the letter to Governor Amos Nyaribo.
The former journalist added that he attempted to improve the governor’s comfort by providing an extra bodyguard and an alternative vehicle for daily use.
“It is extremely painful as well, that a plan to put in place measures aimed at making your comfort and security my utmost priority became a cropper,” he stated.
Mismanagement of funds, he argued, was also rampant in the county, leading to open rebellion. He also claimed that some staff bought their way into county jobs.
“I desired to brief you on the largely held view by the county civil service and the county office employee, which has suffered deep mistrust, open rebellion, and to a large extent entertained the thought that they are being used as conduits of siphoning public funds,” he added.
In the letter, he claimed to have attempted to seek the governor's audience more than six times to discuss the way forward on how to improve working conditions and fulfil his manifesto.
"Unfortunately, this did not materialize," the communication strategist and journalist renowned for the investigative documentary, Case Files, lamented.
