Nakuru County Government is once again in hot soup over what has been termed as irregular renovation of the Players Theater by the Department of Education Youth Culture and Social Services.
According to a petition filed by Nakuru Stakeholders Forum and Nakuru County Public Opinion Consultative Initiative at the clerk of the Nakuru County Assembly, the lobby groups claim Governor Kinuthia Mbugua was misled in committing the county government of Nakuru in such a venture by department officers who also cunningly made sure that he (Mbugua) commissioned the renovation work two months ago.
"The Nakuru Players Theatre has for many years operated as a members only private property and such it is unthinkable how it was factored and considered to benefit from public funding by the department mentioned and in the bigger picture county Government of Nakuru"read part of the petition signed by Daniel Murugu and Wycliffe Agesa Oguda.
The petitioners have termed the move illegal as it is against the Public Finance Act which prohibits, bars and bans the usage of public funds in privately owned properties.
The petitioners further argue that the funds used for the renovation of the theatre could have been used to upgrade the County Public Social Halls such as Menengai.
They have also questioned the funds used -Sh30-40 million- claiming the renovation alone could not have consumed such an amount of money.
"It is due to this that the petitioners have demanded the ongoing renovation to stop with immediate effect until forensic investigations are commenced and concluded by the relevant committees of the County Assembly of Nakuru as it shall be directed by the Speaker," read the petition.
Through their petition, they also demand thorough interrogation of County Executive Committee Members and Chief Officers for Education Youth,Culture and social Services and Finance and Economic Planning, Director of Communications and the chairman Nakuru Players Theatre over the the gross abuse of public funds on private property of Nakuru.
The petition received by clerk will now be presented to the Nakuru County Assembly Business Committee chaired by House speaker Susan Kihika for direction.