Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana has not set foot in his official office at the county headquarters in Hola town for the past eight years, reportedly due to persistent fears of witchcraft and supernatural risks allegedly left behind by previous county administrators.
Multiple sources familiar with the governor’s inner circle confirmed that immediately after his election victory in 2017, advisors and local elders warned him against using the main county offices, citing spiritual dangers embedded in the building during the transition from the previous administration. Godhana, who was first elected on an ODM ticket and re-elected in 2022, is said to have taken the warnings seriously and has since operated almost entirely from alternative locations.
The governor’s primary base is Garsen, about 60 kilometres north of Hola along the Garissa–Garsen highway, where he conducts most routine county business. Major policy meetings, budget consultations and high-level engagements are frequently held in Makutano, a small trading centre roughly eight kilometres outside Hola town on the outskirts of the county headquarters. For sensitive or strategic deliberations, Godhana and his executive team often travel to a satellite office established in Nyali, Mombasa, approximately 300 kilometres away.
Locals in Hola describe the county headquarters as largely deserted. The main gate is partially open most days, allowing occasional visitors and a few security guards, while the expansive car park remains empty except for one or two vehicles belonging to clerical staff. County departments that still operate from Hola do so with minimal activity, and most senior officials and department heads are based in Garsen or travel frequently to meet the governor elsewhere.
A long-serving county employee who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “The governor has never used the Hola office since he was sworn in. We were told by those close to him that elders advised against it because of things left behind by the previous regime—spiritual things. Whether it’s true or not, the result is the same: the headquarters feels abandoned.”
Another resident of Hola town added: “You can pass by the county offices any day and see almost no movement. The governor’s convoy is never seen here. Everything happens in Garsen or they go all the way to Mombasa. People are asking why we have a headquarters that is not used.”
No official statement from the governor’s office has confirmed or denied the witchcraft claims. Efforts to obtain a response from the county’s communication team were unsuccessful as of February 20, 2026. However, sources close to Godhana insist the decision to base operations in Garsen is purely logistical and security-related, not supernatural.
“Garsen is more central for many parts of the county and has better access to northern wards,” one advisor explained. “The Nyali office in Mombasa is used when we need to meet national government officials, development partners or hold confidential strategy sessions away from distractions. The Hola offices are still operational for routine services—people can go there for certificates, licences and other county functions.”
The governor’s absence from Hola has fuelled local speculation and criticism, especially among residents who feel the county headquarters should be the nerve centre of administration. Some have accused the leadership of neglecting the town and prioritising personal convenience over public service.
A community elder in Hola said: “If the governor fears something in his own office, how can he lead the county effectively? We elected him to serve all of us, including those of us in Hola. The headquarters should not be a ghost town.”
Political observers note that the situation reflects broader challenges in devolved governance, including perceptions of insecurity, logistical preferences and the personal beliefs of leaders. “This is unusual but not unheard of,” said political analyst Dr Martin Ouma. “Some leaders avoid certain offices due to cultural or spiritual beliefs passed down from elders. Whether that is the real reason here or not, the optics are poor—it reinforces the view that Hola is being sidelined.”
The county government has invested in satellite offices and mobile service delivery units to reach residents in far-flung areas, but critics argue that the physical headquarters in Hola should remain the symbolic and functional heart of administration.
As Tana River prepares for the 2027 election cycle, the governor’s prolonged avoidance of the county HQ is likely to remain a point of discussion among voters and opponents who may frame it as evidence of detachment from the county seat.
