Garissa: Government offices in Ijara Sub-county have become a point of concern for local residents and civil servants due to their deteriorating condition. The offices, which are supposed to represent the government’s authority in the area, are showing visible signs of neglect, with cracked walls and rusted iron sheet roofs caused by the salt-laden winds from the Indian Ocean.
According to Kenya News Agency, a recent inspection revealed that many government offices in Ijara are in a state of disrepair. The situation is raising concerns among officers, especially with the rainy season approaching, as leaking roofs are a common issue in the affected buildings. The Mathenge tree (Prosopis Juliflora) has also been identified as a major threat to the infrastructure, with its roots capable of damaging foundations and cracking rocks essential for building stability.
The most severely affected offices include the National Youth Service Offices, the State Department of Information and Broadcasting, the Department of Irrigation, the Kadhis Court, the Sub-county Treasury, and the Department of Energy. Additionally, private residences, particularly those that contributed to Masalani’s urban identity in the 1980s and 1990s, are also at risk.
The sub-county headquarters in Masalani town, which previously hosted the current Rift-Valley Regional Commissioner, Mr. Abdi Hassan, were developed with assistance from the late Garissa Senator Mohamed Yussuf Haji. The senator provided materials for the construction of the offices, while the government supplied furniture and staff. Other offices were established by various ministries and departments, but some have struggled to secure funding for refurbishments, forcing officers to use outdated furniture inherited from the former Garissa County Council.
Civil servants in the area have called on Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development, Geoffrey Ruku, to address the issue. They urge collaboration with relevant ministries, including The National Treasury, Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Devolution and Lands Ministry, to secure land ownership and renovate the offices. This, they believe, would improve the government’s image in the sub-county.
