William Ruto Promises Chiefs Gov't Will Provide Them With 1,000 Electric Cars Soon: "No Struggle"

• President William Ruto recognised the contribution of the local administrators in the country's governance
• To enhance their service to the nation, the president promised electric cars for the administrative officers' mobility
• A pilot phase was launched earlier this month in Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos and Kajiado counties, where chiefs were issued with electric motorcycles

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - President William Ruto has pledged to ease the mobility of the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) to enhance their services to the country.

The president, in the company of his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, among other ranking government officials, met with the administrators in Nairobi on Tuesday.

What is the significance of NGAO officers?

Ruto observed that NGAO was properly an extension of the Executive and that its officers had been instrumental in national development.

The president lauded the NGAO officers for, among other undertakings, primarily maintaining law and order, promoting national cohesion, and facilitating the administration of justice at the grassroots.

"There should be no doubt whatsoever as to the place of NGAO in the governance of Kenya. The constitution itself speaks to the configuration of this outfit in a manner that supports the governance of our country even in the context of our devolved system of governance," he said.

How NGAO officers' mobility will be enhanced

As a motivation to the officers to aid the national government in advancing its agenda at the grassroots, Ruto revealed the state had rolled out a programme to equip them with vehicles for their movements.

The president said the move would be akin to the modernisation being undertaken in the police service and the National Youth Service (NYS).

Ruto noted that once charged, a vehicle would cover over 300 kilometres; thus, the administrators would not struggle with fuel.

The vehicles will be availed in the next two months, the president declared.

"We are working on the first 1,000 vehicles, maybe progressively every year, until we have every officer at a certain level with a car; we will go in the direction of electric motor vehicles. So you will not struggle with looking for fuel. We will also give you a charger so that when you are in the office, the car charges outside to enhance your movements," the president said.

A pilot phase was launched earlier this month in Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos and Kajiado counties, where chiefs were issued with electric motorcycles.

Stipend for Nyumba Kumi elders

Separately, the government previously recognised the elders running the Nyumba Kumi initiative as an integral part of the country's security system.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki proposed compensating the officials with KSh 500 per two weekly meetings, arguing that it is important to appreciate them for their role at the lowest level of the country's administration.

They would, therefore, earn KSh 1,000 weekly.