A row has erupted between government officials in new districts and those from the old ones over implementation of development projects.

Interviews by departmental heads posted to the newly created districts have revealed that most of them have no work to do because all projects in their are were still being implemented by officials from older districts.

A survey by the Nation revealed that officials who were initially implementing the projects have refused to hand them over.

Leaders in some of the affected new districts are demanding that the government intervene and give directions on the matter.

In the newly created Nyamira North District, members of the district development committee were angered when they were informed that departmental heads from Nyamira District were implementing development projects in their area.

Donor projects

North Mugirango MP Wilfred Ombui and Nyamira County Council Chairman Charles Aumbi questioned why officials in Nyamira District had refused to hand over to their colleagues in Nyamira North District.

However, the acting Nyamira district development officer Shellmith Mugo said the departmental heads had not handed over the projects to the new staff for the sake of smooth completion of donor-funded projects.

“The donors are used to the departmental heads they started with and introducing new ones may hamper the smooth running of these projects. However, it is necessary for departmental heads to involve the new staff in what they are doing,” she said.

The committee proposed creation of two more divisions and several locations and sub-locations in the new district, but the DC said due to cash constraints, the new districts were not allowed to have more than four divisions.