The battle for political supremacy in Nakuru County went a notch higher today after Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and former National Transport and Safety Authority Chairman Lee Kinyanjui clashed in public.
Trouble started after Kinyanjui, who is also eyeing the governor seat, accused Governor Mbugua of allegedly failing to fulfill his election pledges noting that service provision in the devolved unit is poor.
According to the former Nakuru Town MP, failure by Mbugua’s administration to ensure proper use of funds and prompt provision of quality services has led to voter apathy. The former MP who is seen as the main challenger to Mbugua claimed that locals are a frustrated with corruption and ineptitude bedeviling his government.
Kinyanjui accused the governor’s administration of failing its electorate which made them see no value in participating in elections which they are yet to benefit from. He added that the governor has been making numerous promises in his speeches to the residents but failed to walk the talk.
“You stand accused for the low number of new registered voters. You are claiming this is a Jubilee zone but the numbers don’t lie. They are reflecting an opposition zone. It’s time you stop a lot of Kizungu and do the action,” Kinyanjui said.
According to him, the county government has not delivered to the expectation of Nakuru residents, a major cause for the low turn up standing at 1.5 percent as at the end of the first week of mass registration.
“By Sunday the IEBC had registered less than 2 per cent while other counties are at over 20 per cent. This is a clear indication there is a problem which needs to be corrected in the coming elections,” he said.
He lashed at the governor for over the acute water shortage in most parts of Nakuru town for the past three weeks which has caused them to lack confidence in the leaders they elected. “You cannot milk a cow while kicking its back. For over three weeks there has been no water in most areas in Nakuru town.
“This is why people are not turning up for the exercise,” he said. But in a quick rejoinder, an incensed Governor Mbugua hit out at Kinyajui terming his remarks as petty and nonsense describing the biting shortage of water as a national problem facing major towns including Nairobi.
“Going by your claims it is like you’re insinuating that I am the cause of drought in Nakuru. The whole country is facing water shortage and it is very offensive to blame me for that,” Kinuthia retorted. He further accused Kinyanjui of expressing himself as a failed and arrogant leader even before he gets elected.
“Your sentiments are very offensive and discouraging to the voters. You are driven by sheer arrogance in your speaking,” Kinuthia said. T
he two gubernatorial competitors were addressing a meeting attended by all aspirants in the county to strategise on how to get more registered voters ahead of tomorrow’s visit by Deputy President William Ruto.
