Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika has accused Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui of holding staff hostage in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a post on her social media platforms on Tuesday, March 24, the Nakuru senator criticised the governor of hanging on to non-essential staff even as the threat of Coronavirus pandemic looms.
"While everyone else is playing their role to contain the spread of Covid-19, its most unfortunate that Nakuru County Government has flatly refused to let the non-essential staff stay/work from home," Kihika wrote in part.
She accused the county governor of allegedly putting his focus primarily on county revenue at the expense of the health of employees.
This, she stated, was hampering the government's efforts to combat the Coronavirus pandemic on grounds that staff members were not getting a chance to practice social distancing as required.
"We have over 4,500 members of Nakuru County staff who cannot practice social distancing because apparently, the county government is more concerned by a shortfall in its revenue collection target as opposed to safeguarding the lives of its staff and by extension, their families and the entire community," she added.
The vocal senator dismissed the alleged decision by the governor as not only irresponsible but also one "bordering criminality and inhuman behaviour".
She further pleaded with the governor to reconsider and let the non-essential staff go home and to ensure that the essential staff are well taken care of, as the government's dictates.
"I call on Governor Lee (Kinyanjui) to do the most responsible thing and release any non-essential staff from their places of work until such a time when we shall have contained this scourge.
"In addition, I call upon the county government to adequately take care of the essential staff by providing enough sanitation points and adequate attire (masks, gloves, sanitizers, etc) for the county cleaning staff," she concluded.
Nakuru county has already taken several measures aimed at combating the Coronavirus pandemic, including the closure of market areas and the decongesting of bus parks.
The county is also yet to record any suspected case of the Covid-19 pandemic.
