The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Journalist Dennis Onsarigo, who gained fame for highlighting criminal issues, has resigned from his position as chief of staff in the Nyamira County government.
Mr. Onsarigo was appointed to the position in October 2022 by Governor Amos Nyaribo but hinted that he was not given a conducive environment to carry out his duties.
In a letter to his superior, Mr. Onsarigo said one of the reasons for his resignation was his attempt to meet with Governor Nyaribo to discuss how they could collaborate to fulfill his agenda for the citizens, but those efforts failed.
“As you know, I tried several times to meet with you to discuss in depth how my office would collaborate with yours to achieve your manifesto. But that didn’t happen,” part of Mr. Onsarigo’s two-and-a-half-page letter, signed on January 10, 2024, said.
The Governor’s Office stamped the letter on January 24, 2024.
The journalist revealed that he was displeased with another incident where Governor Nyaribo’s guards and drivers were not paid their allowances for several months, despite the funds being disbursed by the Controller of Budget (CoB).
Furthermore, Mr. Onsarigo hinted that Governor Nyaribo’s current office lacked toilets of suitable quality for a governor, and they often felt embarrassed when visited by many guests, who he also said were insufficiently accommodated in the reception area as it is currently small.
“The plan to renovate your office and build modern toilets to rid us of the embarrassment we faced when many visitors were visiting us was also not possible. The current toilets do not resemble any sign of being called toilets because there is not enough water and other facilities used in there. The current toilet only suits men, and female visitors who come to us find it difficult to use,” Mr. Onsarigo added.
The journalist also added that his office had started facing obstacles, with some people portraying them as those targeting to embezzle public funds.
Moreover, he also claimed that some youths seeking employment in the Nyamira government were pressured to bribe in order to be considered for any jobs.
“Despite the hard work from my department, it has been found that the challenges we are facing cannot be tolerated beyond this point, and therefore, my continued service in this position will not be good for the progress we intend. I expressed my concerns to you, but I don’t want it to reach a point where I appear incapable of doing my job,” he said, thanking Mr. Nyaribo for the time he appointed him to the office.
In February 2022, Mr. Onsarigo was appointed to oversee communications in the campaign of Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, who ran for president that year.
Before joining Mr. Odinga’s camp, Mr. Onsarigo, who left a local television station in the country in 2018, also worked in Taita Taveta County as a communications officer.
