Two Baringo MCAs have called for the immediate transfer of County Commissioner Henry Wafula for allegedly taking sides in politics.
Reuben Chepsongol (Bartabwa) and Silas Tochim (Tenges) said Wafula has lost focus and forgotten his main role of beefing up security.
“Instead of dealing with the killer bandits, disarming them and restoring peace, the administrator is busy following some politicians around,” Chepsongol said.
However, the county commissioner rubbished the allegations saying he was carrying out his duties without favour.
"None of them is my employer, in fact I'm only doing my work as duly assigned to me by President Uhuru Kenyatta, simple," he said.
He further said he will not waste his time dealing or responding to MCAs saying he has other serious issues to address like beefing up security and recovering animals stolen by bandits.
Addressing journalists in Kabarnet town on Monday, the MCAs criticised the commissioner saying he watches as the government deploys National Police Reservists to banditry-prone Laikipia while Baringo, which is experiencing a similar challenge, received none.
“We wonder why Wafula is busy following around some politicians while our people are being attacked and killed by armed bandits along the porous Kerio Valley, Baringo-Elgeyo-Marakwet border” Chepsongol said.
He said many Baringo residents have lost their loved ones, got injured, livestock stolen and displaced yet they equally deserve protection of lives and property like other Kenyans.
Tochim, who is eyeing senatorship, accused Wafula of being behind the lobbing of a tear gas canister inside the assembly while the MCAs were debating and thrashing the Building Bridges Initiative document in February.
“We thank God we are alive, imagine what would have happened had they thrown a grenade, the entire assembly would have perished,” he said.
The MCA said the culprit who was used to throw the teargas, a security guard attached to a politician, recently confessed to him.
"The officer told me that he got injured in the process of trying to lobby the teargas inside the assembly which was meant to disburse the MCAs before they quashed the bill," the MCA claimed.
Assembly Speaker David Kiplagat said he braved the teargas until he announced the final results after majority of MCAs voted to withdraw BBI.
The leaders allied to the Deputy President William Ruto termed the commissioner a threat to their own security as the country approaches next year’s 2022 political campaigns.
They however urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider withdrawing him immediately saying “we want all of us to hold peaceful campaigns”.
Chepsongol added saying it is their fundamental right to be protected irrespective of political affiliation, “and if Wafula wants to join politics then he should resign and join us instead of practicing favoritism”.
-Edited by SKanyara
