This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
Dr. Hillary Barchok is set to take office as the new Bomet County Governor on Thursday, but his administration is already facing a possible controversy. The controversy centers around the purchase of a new vehicle for the incoming governor.
According to reports, pictures of a brand new high-end vehicle branded 'GVN036B' flooded the internet on Wednesday, sparking questions about why Dr. Barchok would not use the vehicles left behind by his predecessor, Dr. Joyce Laboso, who passed away on July 29, 2019, at the Nairobi Hospital.
Dr. Barchok's administration has come under sharp criticism, with some political pundits terming the alleged action to buy a new vehicle as extravagance.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, the county government denied purchasing a new vehicle for Dr. Barchok, stating that it cannot afford it. A representative told Citizen TV that the county government had merely hired the vehicle for two days to facilitate Dr. Barchok's inauguration and movement afterwards.
Dr. Barchok will be sworn in as the new Bomet Governor in a ceremony expected to be attended by Deputy President William Ruto, Council of Governors Chair Wycliffe Oparanya, and other Cabinet Secretaries.
It is worth noting that the county government has yet to speak on the whereabouts of the county vehicle used by former Governor Dr. Laboso during her tenure, before her demise.
