Graft war, restoring healthcare top Mt Kenya governors' agenda

Kawira Mwangaza was sworn in as Meru's first female Governor. [George Kaimenyi, Standard] Governors elected across Mt Kenya regions in the August 9 elections were sworn in yesterday in colourful fetes held in their various county headquarters. And in what could turn out to be the new battlefront, most of those elected for the first time have pledged to investigate pending bills and to carry out staff audits in their first months in office. They include Murang'a's Irung'u Kang'ata, Cecily Mbarire (Embu) and Kawira Mwangaza (Meru). Kang'ata inherited a pending bill of Sh2 billion, which he said will be investigated by the Auditor General Office to protect public funds. Speaking at Ihura Stadium, after he took the oath of office, the governor said auditors will expose any ghost contractors that could have led to inflation of the pending bill. "Within 100 days, the office of the auditor general will be invited to scrutinise the pending bills left behind by the past government,'' he said. Murang'a County Creameries (MCC) initiated by former Governor Mwangi wa Iria, he said, will also be subject of a special audit to establish its status. He pledged that in three months, delayed salaries will be a thing of the past in the county adding that operations including the collection of parking fees will be automated to cut down on pilferage. He further claimed that Delmonte Kenya Limited had ceded 1,400 acres to Murang'a County government but a public disclosure was not made by the outgoing government. His other pledges included prioritising health care through provision of enough drugs and completion of stalled hospitals projects at Kirwara and Bildad Kaggia and at Nyakianga Health Centre. "We shall work towards constructing a level five hospital at Kenol to serve the residents from Kandara, Gatanga, Kigumo and Maragua," pledged the Governor. Present were MPs-elect, Alice Wahome( Kandara), Peter Kihungi (Kangema), Ndindi Nyoro( Kiharu), Edward Muriu (Gatanga), Dr Edwin Mugo( Mathioya), senator Jose Nyutu and Women Representative Betty Maina. A new era of Meru politics and leadership was ushered after Mwangaza took the reins yesterday. Public Service and Gender Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia, who was present, revealed she tried to convince Ms Mwangaza to defend her Woman Rep seat but the later stuck to her goal of becoming governor. "I advised her to seek reelection as Woman Rep and she said she will think it over. When she came back to me she said her goal remained being governor. I have no doubt you will make Meru one of the great counties," said Kobia. Ms Mwangaza said a new dawn had come, promising that she will deliver on her manifesto. "I want to assure you of unprecedented growth. There will be no more corruption. I am going to protect your resources," she announced. "Today we have opened a chapter which generations will benchmark with." Mwangaza said while she will not be vengeful even as she promised an audit of county staff and audit of a Sh1.2 billion debt inherited from her predecessor, Kiraitu Murungi. She promised to equip all hospitals and have medical supplies, water, improve road and, education and agricultural productivity adding that staff rewards will be based on performance and productivity. Senator Kathuri Murungi (UDA) and outgoing senator Mithika Linturi and MPs Moses Kirima (Central Imenti), Shadrack Mwiti (South Imenti), Rahim Dawood (North Imenti), Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), Mpuru Aburi (Tigania), John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), Dan Kiili (Igembe Central) and Julius Taitumu (Igembe North) attended the ceremony. "Political competition is not enmity. We are here to state that we are going to work with you to push Meru forward," said," said Mr Linturi. Dawood said the nine MPs had agreed they would give Mwangaza the necessary support to deliver the development agenda they have for Meru. Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru was sworn in to serve for the second term alongside her deputy David Githanda by Lady Justice Hedwig Ong'udi at Kamiigua Polytechnic grounds. Canada High Commissioner Christopher Thornley was among the diplomats who attended the ceremony while Senator-elect Kamau Murango and Kirinyaga Central MP-elect Gachoki Gitari led the local guests. Waiguru has called upon her competitors to join hands in serving Kirinyaga people and also maintain peace. She affirmed the commitment of her government to complete the ongoing projects and programmes. In Nyeri, Mutahi Kahiga was yesterday sworn in for the second term where he promised to solve the health care woes once and for all. According to the governor, his second term will ensure that Healthcare is not made a campaign agenda anymore. He said his second term will be dedicated to completing various health health programs initiated in the first term. Some of his priority projects will include start of operations at Narumoru Hospital to decongest Nyeri PGH and easing the travel burden on Kieni East. He also promised to set up a level four hospital in Kieni West and another specialized eye hospital in Tetu. In Embu, Cecily Mbarire, who is serving her first term, has pledged to overhaul systems not working in the county government in her first 100 days to ensure better service delivery to residents. She pledged to overhaul the revenue system, which collects a paltry Sh300 million far below the projected Sh1 billion. The health docket will also be a priority for her government, she announced. "My Government will with immediate effect embark on a recovery plan for our health care system with an aim to ensure that we provide sustainable and affordable health care to all our people," she said. She expressed concern over the Sh2 billion pending bills left by the outgoing regime which she promised to subject to a forensic audit. Ms Mbarire also extended an olive branch of her opponents, saying they need to work together in serving them people. "Campaigns are over and we must get to work and ask ourselves as Embu county where the rains started beating us" she said. In Laikipia, Governor Joshua Irungu's return to the county's helm was marked by the reinstatement of the medics fired by the previous regime and a promise to pay them up to Sh380 million in dues owed to them since 2019. Irungu alongside his Deputy Reuben Kamuri were sworn in by Justice Florence Muchemi. "My first duty as governor is to initiate Health sector reforms so residents get the services they need," he said. Marsabit governor Mohamud Mohammed Ali was sworn in for his second term in a colourful ceremony at the Marsabit town stadium together with his deputy Solomon Gubo Riwe. Justice Edward Muriithi and Lady Justice Christine Wekesa conducted the ceremony. Ali promised that he will redouble his efforts to ensure that he will hand over to the next administration a stronger, fairer, more resilient, and better-situated county Government. Also sworn in yesterday was Abdi Guyo at Isiolo Boys Centre. He pledged to wipe out corruption in the devolved unit. He said his administration will prioritise cultivating peace among warring communities in the cosmopolitan county. Other governors sworn into office were Adan Khalif (Mandera), Mohamud Ali (Marsabit)Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir) and Nathif Jama (Garrisa). (Stories by Boniface Gikandi, Phares Mutembei, Jane Mugambi, Ndung'u Gachane, Abraham Fayo, Abdimalik Mohamed, Lydia Nyawira and Muriithi Mugo)

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