Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has raised concerns over the alleged misuse of an official county government vehicle by Deputy Governor David Kinaniri's team. Kahiga claims he personally trailed a driver attached to Kinaniri, who was using the car to ferry women late at night. The incident occurred on September 24, 2026, in Nyeri town.
According to Kahiga, the vehicle was spotted moving through Nyeri town outside official working hours, between 11:00 PM and midnight. He followed the vehicle, which stopped near a local market where several women boarded before the driver ferried them to various destinations across town. The governor confronted Kinaniri over the incident, but the deputy governor maintained he was unaware that his assigned vehicle was being operated after hours.
Kahiga also questioned the vehicle’s high fuel consumption, noting that he had previously assumed the elevated fuel costs stemmed from Kinaniri’s official political engagements. The governor expressed surprise, suggesting that the fuel was instead being used for personal activities. He stated that he was driving around 11:00 PM or midnight when he saw the vehicle being driven and parked.
The revelation comes amid an ongoing national push to tighten oversight on public assets and curb resource wastage within government agencies. In August 2026, the national government announced plans to roll out a real-time telematics tracking system across all official fleets. The system aims to monitor live vehicle locations, verify driver identity, track fuel efficiency, monitor total mileage, and log vehicle maintenance history.
The proposed tracking system is expected to enhance accountability and transparency in the use of public vehicles. It will enable authorities to monitor vehicle usage and identify instances of misuse. The governor's concerns over the alleged misuse of Kinaniri's vehicle highlight the need for effective monitoring and oversight mechanisms.
Kahiga's allegations against Kinaniri have sparked a debate on the use of public assets by government officials. The incident has raised questions about the accountability of public officials and the need for stricter controls on the use of public vehicles. An investigation into the matter is expected to be conducted.
The outcome of the investigation and the implementation of the tracking system will be crucial in determining the extent of public asset misuse and identifying measures to prevent it. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
Key points
- Governor Mutahi Kahiga alleges that Deputy Governor David Kinaniri's vehicle was used to transport women at night.
- The incident has sparked concerns over public asset misuse and the need for effective monitoring and oversight mechanisms.
- The national government plans to roll out a real-time telematics tracking system to monitor public vehicle usage.
