Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has raised concerns about a rising number of conmen and groups targeting residents, particularly farmers and businesspeople.
He warned that these fraudsters are tarnishing the reputation of Eldoret and the county, which could instill fear in potential investors. Some of the scams have been carried out through religious groups with large followings, he noted.
“We urge the police to do everything possible to bring to justice those involved in conning our people during these challenging times,” Bii stated.
This plea comes as police have begun investigating a forex trading company that has defrauded residents of over Sh1 billion in the past two years.
Bii made these comments at Zion Mall in Eldoret, where he launched the Sisibo Cultural Festivals. The inaugural three-day event is part of the preparations for Eldoret’s elevation to city status next week. He emphasized that the festival offers an opportunity for Eldoret and Uasin Gishu County to showcase their cultural diversity.
“Every community has its own culture and traditions, which we aim to preserve by hosting such events annually,” he said.
The upcoming city status will play a significant role in attracting tourists and will help the town secure more resources and investors, similar to other cities like Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru, Bii added.
President William Ruto was scheduled to confer the charter this Thursday, but the event has been postponed to August 15. Assembly Chair of the Culture Committee, Thomas Kering, advocated for the annual celebration of the cultural event.
“We appreciate the governor for his leadership. Let’s keep working together so that going forward, dancers and singers can be well facilitated to sell our county better,” the MCA said.
CEC for Culture, Anthony Sitienei, said the festivals allow the county to display its cultural diversity.
“We have almost all the communities in this county and this event provides an opportunity for us to showcase not only the culture but also food, fashion, music and dances,” he said.
