Tana River County government offices closed on Thursday as key officials attended a devolution conference in Kirinyaga, leaving residents without access to critical services. The event, which began on Monday, concluded yesterday, with most county executive committee members, chief officers, and department directors absent from their posts.
Residents reported prolonged difficulties in accessing government services, with many offices locked and only minimal staffing at the procurement and trade departments. Rehema Odha, a local resident, stated she had visited the county headquarters for three days seeking assistance but repeatedly found empty offices. "At times, I found an empty office," she said, highlighting the disruption caused by the officials' absence.
Investigations revealed some department heads had claimed travel allowances for the conference but were later spotted in town. Locals urged the governor to ensure department heads remain in Tana River during such events, arguing that directors, not senior officials, should represent the county at conferences.
