West Pokot Governor John Longapuo, on Tuesday, October 8, hit back at Senators with three savage answers after they nagged him over the whereabouts of his deputy.
While appearing before the Senate Devolution Committee, the lawmakers pressed the county boss to explain how he works with an absentee deputy, Dr Nicholas Atudonyang, who is based in the USA.
In precise answers, according to K24 TV, the senator first explained that the county was running fine before challenging them (committee members) to go to the US by themselves and seek him out.
He further added that the two were getting along fine and that Atudonyang was no longer on the payroll but was okay serving the county free of charge.
“I cannot sack him; he has not done anything wrong apart from being absent.
“If you really want to know where he is, the Senate or Parliament committees can take a flight to check on him,” explained Lonyangapuo.
“My deputy governor comes on and off. He left Kenya for the USA in December 2018 and was to return to the country in April 2019. That did not happen because he fell ill.
“He is a practicing neurosurgeon. I am told he is still unwell, though I am not sure if he, indeed, is ailing,” he continued.
He also indicated that he was ready to sack the deputy for being away most of the time. He, however, still works together with him because Atudonyang was ready to work without a salary.
“I, thereafter, told him it won’t be possible for him to continue earning a salary as the deputy governor, yet he is hardly in the county. He agreed to forego his salary, beginning in September 2018. Even when he travels, he is not facilitated by the county government,” remarked Lonyangapuo.
