Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

Subscribe for a month to get full access

Kiambu County Commissioner Esther Maina still in office despite transfer to Embu

Kiambu County Commissioner Esther Maina speaks to journalists at a past event. She has denied refusing to move to Embu after a transfer, saying she was yet to receive her release letter. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  ERIC WAINAINA

What you need to know:

  • Mr Nkoyo was posted to Kiambu from Mandera County.
  • Mr Nkoyo claims Ms Maina gives flimsy excuses and is rarely in the office.
  • Ms Maina denied that she had refused to leave and said arrangements for the handover were in progress.
  • She said the handover ceremony had been scheduled for Thursday but was postponed to a date yet to be given.

Kiambu County Commissioner Esther Maina, who was recently transferred, is still in office.

Ms Maina said she could not leave for Embu and hand over the office to Mr Alex ole Nkoyo because she had not received a release letter.

Mr Nkoyo was posted to Kiambu from Mandera County.

Also Read

The transfers were announced by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery more than three weeks ago and affected 30 top police officers, county commanders and county commissioners.

Mr Nkoyo said Wednesday he arrived at the Kiambu County headquarters to take over his new post but Ms Maina declined to hand over to him.

RARELY IN OFFICE

Mr Nkoyo claims Ms Maina gives flimsy excuses and is rarely in the office.

“When I came, I was given a date for the handover but since then, I hardly find her in the office.

“I am idle because I have no office. I cannot return to Mandera,” he said, adding that Ms Maina still occupied the county chief’s official residence.

He said the matter was being handled “internally” and he had been verbally asked to wait.

“No specific date for the handover has been given. There is no written communication. I must continue waiting,” he added.

Mr Nkoyo said he had also not handed over to his successor in Mandera because the latter was yet to take up his new post.

His successor was transferred from Wajir County.

CLAIMS DENIED

Ms Maina denied that she had refused to leave and said arrangements for the handover were in progress.

“Government officers are not transferred today and then hand over to the next person immediately.

“There are procedures to be followed and that is being worked on now. That is why there is a delay,” Ms Maina told journalists.

She said the handover ceremony had been scheduled for Thursday but was postponed to a date yet to be given.

Internal Security Secretary Joseph Irungu said Ms Maina had not handed over the office to Mr Nkoyo because she still had some unfinished business in Kiambu County.

“That she has declined to leave is not true.

“We are working on the arrangements and the delay is because there is some work she is supposed to complete before proceeding to Embu,” Mr Irungu told the Nation by phone Wednesday.

In the headlines