By Lauryne Akoth
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has threatened to call for a vote of no confidence for the governor of Nakuru county Susan Kihika over disobedience of the rule of law.
Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, the senator stated that Kihika’s obtrusive acts undermined her oversight role. “I come from a county where intimidation, blackmail, and frustrations are the order of the day. I have been called on private numbers to be threatened and called all sorts of names,” lamented Karanja.
The two leaders have been at loggerheads over the leadership of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital. speaking in the senate, the senator referred to the instance whereby the Law Society of Kenya (Rift Valley Branch) demonstrated in Nakuru county over the immediate restoration of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital management, in compliance with court orders.
The hospital’s management had been taken over by the county government, despite several court orders from the Lands and Environment Court in Nakuru directing the county to relinquish management to the hospital. Karanja alleged the governor sent goons to disrupt their peaceful demonstrations.
” You have heard nowhere in this country whereby judges have given up on a case. You have also seen Chief Justice Koome call out our governor for disobeying court orders,” said Karanja. She urged the standing committee to write a letter to the governor to desist from flaunting court orders.
Referring to Kihika, she said, “They say we are killing devolution but they are the ones killing devolution. I think the COG should call our governors and caution them because they are the ones killing devolution.” She called on the support of the speaker of the senate in reaching out to the governor.
“If we continue that way, then there is no use in having governors in counties. Nakuru County is saying, it is better to stay without a governor than to have Governor Susan Kihika and I am not ashamed to say this,” said Karanja.
She reiterated the fact that she will continue to do her work adding that senators should not be intimidated when conducting their role of oversight.