Moses Akaranga reshuffles cabinet

Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga has
effected changes to his cabinet,
becoming the second county chief to
reshuffle  executive officers after his
Embu counterpart, Martin Wambora.
The governor said the changes,
affecting executive and chief officers,
were made for "effective service
delivery".
Making the announcement, Mr
Akaranga said the changes were
informed by demands from the
public that has complained of laxity
among some officers.
He noted that instead of sacking the
officers, he had opted to shift them
around and gauge their performance
over the next few months.
“The officers signed performance
contracts some months ago and they
have not been living up to the
expectations of the people hence
the need to move them to different
departments. Over the past year, we
have not achieved much as required
by the people, although we have
done well,” said Akaranga.
Veteran agriculturalist, Sande
Mukuna, has been moved from the
Department of Agriculture, Livestock,
Fisheries and Co-operatives to the
Department of Gender, Youths,
Sports and Culture.
Mr Mukuna takes over from
educationist Nixon Amendi, who will
now head the Department of
Environment, Forestry, Water and
Natural Resources that was held by
Halima Abdi, who was moved to the
Department of Agriculture.
Silas Kipkemboi, who was in the
Transport and Infrastructure
department, has swapped places
with Zilpah Kageha of Health.
Different roles
Clara Indire of Lands and Urban
Planning, which will now be headed
by Deputy Governor Caleb
Amaswache, has become the
executive officer for Trade and
Industrialisation.
Johnstone Khejeri, the executive
officer for Public Service and
Administration has retained his
docket while the governor’s political
advisor, Fridah Chahale, is now the
new county executive officer for
Education, Science and Technology.
Five chief officers were also
reshuffled, with Rose Sudi (Public
Service and Administration), Moses
Andangalu (Agriculture), Andrew
Ondego (Health), Ben Kutwa (Gender)
and Lucy Ijai (Lands) retaining their
positions.

Bernard kiala tells senators, Alfred mutula behind his woes

Embattled Machakos Deputy
Governor Bernard Kiala Monday
defended himself before a Senate
committee, saying he was being
crucified for exposing wrongs
committed by the county
government.
Mr Kiala presented himself as an
innocent whistleblower made to
pay for lifting the lid on ills going
on in the government.
Mr Kiala accused Machakos
Governor Alfred Mutua, saying he
was behind his troubles.
He used the 40 minutes given him
to make an opening statement to
reveal what he termed “issues
behind my problems”, although he
focused mostly on the wrongs
allegedly committed by the
governor.
“I wish to respectfully submit to
this committee that I am a victim
of witch-hunt and a sacrificial
lamb at the altar of merchants of
impunity and a county executive
led by the governor keen to haunt
me out of office for whistleblowing
against acts of corruption and bad
governance,” said Mr Kiala.
However, the county assembly
lawyer Kioko Kilukumi defended
the governor and accused Mr Kiala
of derailing the county
government’s activities and
undermining Dr Mutua.
“The deputy governor has been
unable to perform his functions, he
has contravened the Constitution
and abused his office. The people
he has worked closely with,
interacted with have passed a
resolution that he be removed
from office,” said Mr Kilukumi.
At one time, Mr Kiala’s lawyer
Harun Ndubi questioned whether
the committee should entertain
new evidence to support the
allegations against his client and if
doing so amounted to unfair trial
for his client.
The committee retreated for
consultation before its chairman
Mutahi Kagwe who is also the
Nyeri Senator, ruled that the
evidence was admissible so long as
it did not make fresh allegations
that were not discussed when the
MCAs impeached the deputy
governor.
The hearing continues.