Official denies claim toilet cost Sh8.9m

Nakuru County administration has refuted claims that Governor Kinuthia Mbugua on Saturday visited Elburgon to launch a Sh8.9 million public toilet.

In a statement to the Nation, County Secretary Joseph Motari termed the claims as baseless and aimed at tainting the Mbugua administration.

“Claims going round on social media that Governor Mbugua launched a Sh8.9 million public toilet are unfortunate and uncalled for,” said Mr Motari.

“It is a figment of imagination for anybody to state that the toilets were constructed at that cost.”

Instead, said the secretary, Mr Mbugua had visited the area to inspect and launch various development projects including a public toilet constructed at a cost of Sh1.9 million.

“I am asking the governor’s rivals to look for something better to criticise his administration for instead of capitalising on non-issues to taint his image.” “The county can’t, and won’t construct a public toilet at Sh8.9 million.”

He further called on county leaders to unite and develop the region instead of fighting one another for political mileage.

Mr Motari made the remarks following an uproar on social media by some residents claiming that the governor was wasting taxpayers’ money on a project that could have cost less.

A social media user, Mr Daniel Mwangi Wakiru, criticised the county administration on a local WhatsApp group called Nakuru Analysts, saying the governor’s move to launch the project was a joke.

“These people are jokers and are now even going to preside over the launch of a Sh8.9 million toilet.”

Another user claimed that the governor and his officials were busy sharing a “huge chunk of meat” referring to the public funds.

“Does that toilet use mineral water in the flush system?” Posed Mr John Maina, a resident.

Many others in criticism said the county government had abdicated its role of ensuring locals get basic services like water to wasting funds on irrelevant projects.

Nakuru People’s Accountability Forum Chairman Simon ole Nasieku questioned the criteria used and arrived at to construct the costly toilet.

Speaking at a Nakuru hotel, he accused Mr Mbugua of perpetuating corruption, which is denying locals the much needed development projects.