Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has questioned the alleged use of a county government vehicle assigned to Deputy Governor David Kinaniri for activities outside official duties.
Kahiga claimed he encountered the vehicle while moving around Nyeri town between 11pm and midnight and followed it. He said the vehicle stopped at a food business area, where several women were picked up before being driven to different destinations.
The governor said he later sought an explanation from Kinaniri over the vehicle’s movements. According to Kahiga, the Deputy Governor said he was unaware that the vehicle had been used outside official county activities.
Kahiga also raised concerns about rising fuel consumption within the county government, saying he had noticed an increase in the amount of fuel used by official vehicles.
The governor did not identify the driver allegedly involved. He also did not name the women or disclose the destinations where they were allegedly taken.
The claims have not been independently verified and it has not been established that the vehicle was being used for personal purposes. The circumstances surrounding the reported trips remain subject to clarification by the county administration and those involved.
The allegations have drawn attention to the monitoring and accountability of county vehicles, particularly their use outside normal working hours and the fuel consumed during such trips.
The issue comes against the backdrop of national efforts to strengthen oversight of government vehicles.
In August 2026, the government announced plans for a digital system to provide real-time monitoring of official vehicles. The system is expected to track the authorised driver, fuel consumption, mileage and vehicle maintenance.
The government’s planned tracking system is expected to give authorities more detailed records on the movement, fuel use and maintenance of official vehicles.
In the Nyeri case, Kahiga’s account remains an allegation, with no details publicly provided on the driver, passengers or destinations involved. The county has yet to provide a separate account of the vehicle’s reported movements.
