Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has condoled the family of the late Lanet Umoja Chief Francis Kariuki following his demise wednesday.
Kinyanjui noted that he had been saddened by the sudden death of the chief who gained international fame as a tweeting chief for using social media to fight crime in his locality.
The governor noted that the county and the country at large had lost a dynamic and innovative public servant whose influence was felt way beyond his jurisdiction.
He further said that the tweeting chief had, through his efforts, enabled citizens to access information in a timely and effective manner through the use of the twitter platform.
In his message, the governor added that the initiative by Chief Kariuki had not only enhanced service delivery in the urban areas, but was also able to reach out to thousands of rural folks who would normally have been bypassed by important information due to communication challenges.
Family members told the media that the chief was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after falling ill and passed on while undergoing treatment at Nakuru Level 5 hospital.
Chief Kariuki gained international fame and was featured in several international publications for his role in fighting crime using social media.
He used his twitter account that has close to 60,000 followers to reach out in different circumstances including mobilizing the community in the event of an emergency or meetings, reporting an ongoing crime and even sending messages of encouragement.
In his condolence message, County Commissioner Erastus Mbui described the late chief as a seasoned administrator whose innovation helped deliver service delivery to thousands of residents in Lanet Umoja.
He noted that the chief’s unique leadership styles had endeared him to many people and given him international acclamation.
Mbui further said that the chief was an outgoing servant of the people who did not limit himself when serving the people in his locality and had therefore embraced social media as a tool to improve service delivery and enhance security.
By Jane Ngugi
