Nyeri chief officer for education and sports Wachira Ngatia has resigned to concentrate on his bid to become Tetu MP in August.
Ngatia's resignation comes barely two days after Governor Mutahi Kahiga asked those eyeing elective seats in the August 9 General Election to quit.
He tendered his resignation on Friday.
Kahiga had told them to resign, giving him a one-month notice before the February 9 deadline set by IEBC, to avoid interrupting services in the counties.
He will be vying for Tetu MP seat on Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria's Chama Cha Kazi party.
He said he picked the party as its vision is in tandem with his own of transforming Tetu.
Ngatia joined the county government as a chief officer in 2018 where he has been working to date.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank him (Kahiga) for the chance that he has given us to serve,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the people of Tetu will give him a chance to serve them in the August election.
On Wednesday while reorganising his cabinet, Kahiga called on county officers willing to join politics to resign and pursue their goals provided they give one month’s notice as per their contracts to ensure service delivery is not interrupted.
The governor warned the officials against campaigning while still working for the county government.
“I expect seamless coordination of all county governments of Nyeri activities even as we head into the elections. I ask the technocrats to remain focused on their jobs and leave the politics and the politicians to do their things,” he said.
Ngatia’s resignation comes hot on the heels of another resignation by the Health CEC Kwai Wanjaria last week, prompting Kahiga to reinstate one of the sacked CECs as well as reorganise his cabinet.
Kahiga reinstated Beth Karimi, one of the CECs who had been sent on compulsory leave about 90 days ago.
Karimi served as CEC for Public Service and Sanitation and was sent on a 45 days leave alongside her Health counterpart Rachel Kamau in October to allegedly rest and recharge.
Kamau has since been dropped.
Wanjaria, a gynaecologist by training, resigned to pursue personal interests according to Kahiga.
(Edited by V. Graham)
