Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis has returned from America after a mission to woo investors, an absence that resulted in criticism about the number of trips he has taken.
Kiptis left with a delegation from the Council of Governors (CoGs) on July 17 to attend a one-week summer session in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
At St Mary’s Mother of God Catholic Church in Kabarnet town on
Sunday, he responded to reports about his travel.
"You people in the media can just continue writing anything about me until 2022; I don’t care. After all, by so doing you will not add to development," he said.
"I came back with a handful of development ideas. We are in church today ... we can find time to chat on improving Baringo's economy."
In the US, the delegation was also attended the Kenya Diaspora Conference in Dallas Texas, from July 23 to 24 and discussed the role of both levels of government in enhancing investor confidence.
Among those who criticised Kiptis was resident Peter Chebor who said he had travelled a lot since taking office in September 2017 yet he has done "nothing tangible".
"He is ever landing and taking others flights immediately after less than a month but he has done nothing tangible to cover for his time out of office," he told the Star on Monday.
Kiptishad been invited to open the three-day event by the Kabarnet branch of the Agricultural Show of Kenya (ASK) but
Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony represented him since he was away.
At the show, the DG said "our able Governor is currently away representing the county at official functions abroad" and noted the administration's commitment
to improving the people's lives.
Kiptis was not around when the MCAs passed the county's Sh8 billion 2018/19 appropriation budget.
While addressing reporters in his office last
Thursday, assembly Chief Whip and Bartabwa MCA Reuben Chepsong’ol described the situation as "complicated:
"Let us allow him some time. If we talk about it now the public might begin losing trust in him," he said.
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LINEUP OF TRIPS
Records show that the county boss has taken at least five trips abroad, less than a year since taking over from Benjamin Cheboi.
Kiptis' first trip was in November last year when he,
Senator Gideon Moi and Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie went to Germany for a healthcare and vocational training.
As a result, he led the county in signing an exchange programme deal with the Germans on matters health.
In
January, the Governor went to Korea for lessons on
coffee production and marketing.
In February, he visited Malaysia for a Council of Governors convention for urban cities while in March, he went to Geneva for a World Health Organization meeting being the CoG health committee.
On June 18, Kiptis
attended a US-based Kotapgaa social forum on invitation.
He says that on the trips, he has learned
new development ideas that ought to be emulated by his people for Baringo's economy to improve.
