Jobs galore as county executives eyeing elective positions set to quit

Kisumu County Executive Committee Member Roads, Transport and Public Works Dr Joyce Osogo and Prof Judith Attyang County Executive Committee Member Business, Cooperative and Marketing during the unveiling of the report Building Bridges. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Governors are staring at a crisis as most county executive committee (CEC) members eyeing elective positions are set to exit in February next year.

The county chiefs may be forced to make new appointments in the vacant dockets to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has already issued a notice to civil servants seeking elective posts, to resign by February 9, 2022.

In Kisumu, the Business, Marketing and Cooperatives Executive, Judith Attyang’, is set to quit and join the race for Woman Representative. Prof Attyang’, who previously headed the Health docket before she was moved by Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o in a reshuffle, will be seeking to unseat Roza Buyu.

“I am in the race. The idea of the Woman Rep seat was a noble idea, but I feel it has not had a lot of impact and that is why I want to come in and show people that it can be done,” she said.

Education CEC John Awiti wants to make a second stab at the Kisumu Town West seat.

Mr Awiti lost to Ford Kenya’s Olago Aluoch in the 2017 General Election.

In Migori, Trade Executive Sheila Gati Mwita is set to face-off with her Water counterpart Sophie Dhibra for the Migori Woman Representative seat. The duo will battle it out for the seat with Nominated MP Dennitah Ghati.

Public Service Management and Administration CEC Iscar Oluoch is eyeing the Awendo parliamentary seat.

Agriculture Executive Valentine Ogongo wants to make a second stab at the Suna West parliamentary seat. He unsuccessfully vied for the seat in the 2017 General Election.

In Taita Taveta, six county executives have declared interest in various elective positions in the 2022 polls.

Lands Executive Julius Mwandawiro is seeking to unseat Senator Jones Mwaruma, while Water CEC Esther Mwanyumba is eyeing the Women Representative post held by Lydia Haika. Governor’s Gender Advisor on Women Issues Princilla Mwangeka is among county officials who have issued notice of resignation. Ms Mwangeka, who is a former Voi mayor, is yet to declare the position she is going for.

Others include Devolution Chief Officer Simon Mwachia and the governor’s personal assistant Wilfred Mwalimo who are seeking to unseat Wundanyi MP Damson Mwashako.

Governor Granton Samboja said yesterday that the executives have already expressed intent to quit. “Six executives have already given notice to resign to join politics in the next polls. They have indicated that they will resign on February 8 next year and it is their constitutional right to join politics.

“I have released Ms Mwanyumba and Ms Mwangeka to go look for their votes. I have not imposed any candidate to oppose the two politicians. It is the democratic right of the two executives to join politics,” said Mr Samboja. 

In Nakuru, Peter Ketyenya, the Finance CEC in Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration, is eyeing the Kuresoi South seat.

In October, Mr Ketyenya was the talk of town after he erected a billboard in Keringet town to mobilise for voter registration. He will battle it out with incumbent MP Joseph Tanui.

The CEC lost in the 2017 Jubilee nominations before he was picked as running mate of former Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua who later pulled out of the race.

Sources have intimated to The Standard that Trade CEC Raymond Komen is eyeing the Rongai parliamentary seat held by seasoned politician Raymond Moi.

Health Executive Zachary Kariuki Gichuki has declared interest in the Molo parliamentary seat where he will battle it out with incumbent MP Kuria Kimani and former MPs Jacob Macharia and Njenga Mungai.

Chief Officer in charge of ICT and e-government Peter Mwaura and his Environment counterpart Muriithi Kiogora are eyeing Subukia and Nakuru Town East seats, respectively.

[Anne Atieno, Ken Gachuhi and Renson Nyamwezi]