Why Kitui Assembly-Executive Supremacy War Cost the County Service Delivery

 The simmering supremacy war pitting Dr Malombe, on one hand, and a section of MCAs led by Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo, on the other, had threatened to rock the county, frustrate and hold captive the county Executive in denying Kitui people development.

But in turn of events, the Speaker owned up, apologised to the Governor for the misunderstanding and promised to work together and build strong relationships, increasing trust for the county’s development and prosperity.

Speaking earlier, Kinengo gave assurance that within 45 days, the Assembly shall vet and approve the appointments of Agnes Mulewa, Timothy Muange and Christopher Okumu as substantive office bearers for county secretary, county attorney and county public service board secretary respectively.

He called for a ceasefire, saying the infighting and chest thumping had consequences that included unredeemable loss.

Mulewa, Muange and Okumo appeared before the appointment panel chaired by the Speaker at the assembly chambers where they were interviewed and told to wait for the approval by the plenary house sitting.

Ms Mulewa told the committee comprising the assembly’s Majority Leader Harrison Maluki (Migwani ward MCA), Minority Leader, Jeremiah Mutua (Nguni ward MCA) and the acting clerk Chris Mwangangi that her experience was borne out of her working during the former Governor Charity Ngilu and now the incumbent Malombe.

"I had an opportunity to transit from one government to the other and I can give assurance that there is not an easy transition. Leaders have got different visions and the way they conduct their business is also different,” the acting county secretary said. 

Mulewa, a former lecturer at the Southern Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) said she knows and believes that the office of the county secretary is crucial on matters of transition.

“Even if the county secretary was not to transit to the other incoming county government, by virtue of being in that office, you are obligated to chair functions and meetings of both governor-elect and the out-going,” she told the committee.

Mulewa said the holder of the county secretary is required to perform his or her duties diligently, to ensure that he or she gives the outgoing and incoming governor necessary support that needed and furnish the incoming governor with the state of the public service so that it will be easy for the governor to get along and proceed.

She said lack of clear transition was to blame for continuity of vibrant and sustainable programmes undertaken by outgoing governments which the incoming governments abandon resulting in waste of public funds.

“If this committee finds me suitable and endorses me and eventually appoints me substantively, I will be able to claim my role, act professionally without any prejudice", Mulewa said.