Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has rubbished allegations of extravagance and wasteful spending on foreign trips.
Mbugua termed the trips as necessary for the county's development.
Speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of the refurbishment works of the Nakuru Polytechnic, the governor stressed on the need for foreign support in the dispensation of development projects.
“I have been going for foreign trips for development purposes. Two weeks ago just before the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) visited our county, I had gone to Netherlands which was so vital as this has seen the project to build sanitation and water facilities as well as sewer lines in a number of estates, all funded by the Government of Netherlands extended for a year,” Mbugua confirmed.
This comes in the wake of claims by some members of the public and a section of leaders that the county boss has been spending too much time and taxpayers’ money on foreign trips instead of focus more on development projects.
The county boss also clarified on the total amount of money the county owes its debtors.
“The reports in the media doing rounds that the county has accumulated a debt of Sh2.3 billion is not accurate. Part of this debt which is Sh840 million was inherited from the defunct municipal and county councils. The reminder is money owed to contractors which is in LPOs and has been factored as part of the debt”, said Mbugua.
The governor, however, noted that the speed of development under devolution is much faster than before and his government has made gains to warrant a second term.