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Government departments dealt a
blow in Nyanza
Published on January 27, 2008, 12:00 am
By John Oywa and George Olwenya
It was one of the most eagerly awaited elections. But upon
conclusion, the exercise has left bitterness and suffering, with
towns and villages changed forever.
In Nyanza, Government services are on the verge of collapse after
State installations were either burnt or looted.
The Public Service is in a mess after many civil servants fled the
province following the post- election violence.
Government hospitals and health centres are reeling under a
crippling staff shortage and schools remain closed. Public
transport has come to a near standstill.
Almost all Government ministries face a crippling staff shortage.
Law courts are operating at half their capacities because of the
unprecedented chaos.
The PC, Mr Paul Olando, has twice sent out a public appeal to
civil servants to return to work.
On Friday, he said the Government services remained robust despite
the skirmishes.
But The Sunday Standard confirmed that many civil servants who
fled their work stations have not been replaced.
In the week ODM called for mass protests, Government services
collapsed after workers stayed away.
There are also reports that some villages are disobeying chiefs
and their assistants, claiming that President Kibaki did not win
the election.
In districts like Rachuonyo and Homa Bay, where Ministry of Roads
and Public Works offices were destroyed, road construction could
take long to resume.
Demonstrators protesting Kibaki’s re-election burnt the ministry’s
offices in Oyugis and Homa Bay.
Also destroyed were important contract documents for various roads
in the two districts. The ministry further lost motor vehicles,
tractors and bulldozers.
The Ministry of Water was the biggest casualty after its
provincial headquarters, that also houses the Lake Victoria South
Water Services Board, was looted and more than 10 new Mitsubishi
Pajero vehicles burnt.
The water services board, which supervises water supply in Nyanza
and parts of the Rift Valley, lost vital donor projects documents.
The board has started from scratch because even its telephone
lines and computers containing important data were damaged.
The PC has ordered the re-opening of all schools tomorrow.
Some Government officials say working in the field has been
difficult since villagers have threatened to burn their vehicles.
In some parts of the province, hostility against provincial
administrators is evident.
In Siaya, villagers burnt the offices of Usonga chief, Mr
Augustine Omuya.
The assistant chief for Ngunya sub-location, Ugunja division, was
frog-matched to the local police station by his subjects, accusing
him of colluding with thugs to terrorise them.
Siaya Officer Commanding Police Division, Mr Humphrey Wanzala,
said their investigation had disproved the allegations.
But he said the police had sheltered the assistant chief since his
life was in danger.
Local authorities are also hard hit. Council offices have never
been fully operational since the beginning of the year.
The Siaya County Council offices have remained closed with no sign
of life. The county clerk has not resurfaced since chaos rocked
the country.
Youths have taken advantage of the chaos to erect illegal road
blocks and terrorise the public.
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