Dennis Onsarigo resigns from Nyamira Chief of Staff job, cites lack of toilets, internal sabotage

In a letter seen by Citizen Digital, Onsarigo claims there is a deliberate strategy from unknown people who are working day and night to impede service delivery in the county. 

“Over the course of my tenure, I have encountered what would be best described as deliberate strategy that has imposed itself in the way of service delivery and impeded our ability to fully realize our vision," Onsarigo says in a letter dated January 10.

In the letter, the former aide to Raila Odinga discloses that his attempts to meet Governor Nyaribo to discuss issues affecting the County were not granted. 

“As you may be aware, I made several attempts, more than six times, to seek an audience with you to discuss an elaborate plan on how best the office of the chief of staff would function in the execution of your mandate while supporting other departments; unfortunately, this did not materialise," he adds. 

Onsarigo claims senior county officials sabotaged his plans to streamline the functionality of the office of the governor to avoid subjecting the county boss to embarrassments. 

“The plan to refurbish the office of the governor and build a modern toilet to save us from embarrassing episodes of panic when we have many visitors paying us a visit was also not a possibility. The washrooms's renovation has failed to capture the most essential part of what constitutes a functioning washroom: running water and toiletries," he claims, adding that his effort to give the office of the governor a facelift was were not put into consideration. 

Onsarigo further adds that his effort to spear creation of the office of a protocol officer and office administrator under the Governor's office were also futile. 

He also states that he lacked audience to brief the governor on the public lack of trust in his office and open rebellion, which propelled beliefs of siphoning of public funds.

"This widely held view that the donor funded projects monies / single sourcing of contracts among other lucrative projects are avenues to divert public funds have been of grave concern to me and a chance to dispel these baseless allegations would have been possible if you had given me the much -sought audience for the last one year," he states. 

The former investigative journalist was appointed Chief of Staff by Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo in October 2022 after serving at Raila Odinga’s presidential campaigns secretariat for six months. 

He has also served as the Director of Communications in Taita Taveta County where he acted as the link between the county and national governments and the Council of Governors.

Onsarigo came into the limelight for hosting the popular crime series dubbed ‘Case Files’ on KTN News.