Former NTV and KTN investigative journalist Dennis Onsarigo has been compelled to step down from his role as the Chief of Staff in Nyamira County. The former Press Secretary for ODM leader Raila Odinga cited frustrations in his resignation letter dated January 10, 2024, as revealed by Business Times. Onsarigo expressed concerns that ongoing challenges may lead to perceptions of incompetence, prompting his decision to resign from the significant position.
“It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation from the position of Chief of Staff office of the Governor Nyamira County. Serving in this capacity has been a privilege, and it is not without considerable introspection and disappointment that I make this decision,” Onsarigo wrote in the letter to the governor.
Onsarigo assumed the role of Press Secretary for Raila Odinga’s campaign secretariat in February 2022 before transitioning to the position of Chief of Staff in Nyamira County in October of the same year.
In his resignation letter, Onsarigo mentions his attempts to secure a meeting with Governor Amos Nyaribo, which proved unsuccessful, ultimately leading to his decision to resign.
“I joined this administration with a genuine passion for public service and an unwavering belief in your vision for the great Nyamira County. However, over the course of my tenure, I have encountered what would best be described as a deliberate strategy that has imposed itself in the way of service delivery and impeded our ability to fully realize our vision,” Onsarigo said.
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“As you may be aware, I made several attempts- more than six times- to seek audience with you to discuss an elaborate plan on how best the office of the chief staff would function in the execution of your manifesto while supporting other departments in aligning their short and long plans largely drawing their strengths from the mother manifesto. Unfortunately, this did not materialize.”
Onsarigo cites an “uncomfortable and embarrassing” instance where the governor was forced to stop at a petrol station waiting for his official vehicle to be fuelled by an accounting officer who could not be reached on the phone.
Onsarigo also points out various instances where the governor's security team, including the drivers, could endure months without receiving their allowances, even though the controller of the budget had released the funds in their names.
“It is extremely painful as well, that a plan to put in place measures aimed at making your personal comfort and security my utmost priority became a cropper: plans including and not limited to making available for your use an alternative vehicle, an extra bodyguard -because you have only been operating with one for more than five months, fatigue notwithstanding- fuel cards and resources for a structured servicing and fuelling failed dramatically in what appeared to be an internally engineered and okayed strategy where money to be accrued from these services and interventions unfortunately placed your life and comfort at risk. It is regrettable,” the former investigative journalist added.
Onsarigo also says the plan to refurbish the office of the governor and build a modem toilet was also frustrated. In what seems to be a sorry state of affairs in Nyamira County, Onsarigo says that the available washroom can only be utilized as a urinal for men, sidelining women guests and staff.
Onsarigo further notes that his proposal for the establishment of the position of director of protocol and the recruitment of three additional protocol officers was overlooked. The envisioned protocol team was intended to collaborate closely with communications officers across all departments, specifically in organizing county events that would require the governor's presence.
“It is difficult for me to adequately express my disappointment in not being able to contribute as significantly as I had hoped to in many other areas with an eye on improved service delivery and the upcoming 2027 elections. The positive changes we aspired to bring about in the office of the Governor would have to be implemented by someone else, unfortunately,” he added.
“Despite the dedication and hard work from our team, it has become clear that the obstacles we face are beyond my immediate control, and my continued presence in this role is regrettably not conducive to the progress we all desire. I expressed my fears to you not once but severally that it will get to a point where I will be viewed as incompetent not because of incompetence’s sake but a regime unwilling to accommodate new and bold ideas and one that is captive to a past riddled with self -engineered setbacks.”
Prior to taking on the role of Raila's press secretary, Onsarigo held the position of Director of Communications in Taita Taveta County, a role he had occupied since 2018.
Before his public service roles, he gained experience as an investigative journalist with The Standard Group and Nation Media Group, earning recognition for his investigative series, Case Files.
Business Times has learned that Onsarigo will be transitioning to private media practice.
