Drama resignations that have rocked the Mombasa government are causing panic within the administration circles, with fears that county operations could be disrupted.
Governor Hassan Joho, who is currently in a tussle with Deputy Governor Hazel Katana, has camped in Malindi for weeks now leading campaigns for ODM candidate Willy Mtengo ahead of the March 7 MP by-election.
Several officers working under the Deputy Governor’s office are said to have been sent on compulsory leave, worsening the situation that has seen five top officers throwing in the towel.
The latest is the resignation of Public Service Board chairman Swaleh Slim making him the second since the constitution of the board in 2013.
The first to quit was board secretary Vincent Mnyika Wakayanda who cited personal commitments.
Slim's quitting leaves the board to operate with only five members without the chairperson, a situation that might compel appointment of an acting chair.
Others believed to have resigned are the chief of staff Hamisi Mwaguya and interim secretary Muzne Abdullatif.
Mwaguya is a former county secretary and a close ally of Joho, who together with county secretary Francis Thoya played a key and strategic role in Joho's election in the March 4, 2013 poll.
Mwaguya and Thoya have allegedly differed.
When contacted for comment, Mwaguya burst into laughter, saying: “I can neither confirm nor deny what you are asking me [resignation]. Those who have resigned have attained age 60.”
Mwaguya is in his early forties.
Kongowea MCA Jabess Oduor is worried this may affect the recruitment and vetting of subcounty and ward administrators charged with ensuring the presence of teh devolved government at village level.
“County government must move with speed to recruit these administrators for it to be felt at the grassroots. It is worrying that Slim is one of the numerous top ranking officers to resign under ‘unclear’ circumstances,” he said.
PSB member Jamal Awadh said only the chairman has resigned, but constitutionally the board can still lawfully conduct its mandate.
“Apart from me, there are other four members Mohamed Juma Hamisi, Roselyne Sidi Randu, Rev Allan Omondi Owano and Miriam Abdillahi Mbaruk,” he said.
Asked why their chairman resigned, Awadh said they just heard he resigned although it has not been made official by the executive.
When contacted, Slim confirmed he had resigned but declined to give details until he receives an official response from the executive.
“For now, stick to what is written in my letter and let us stop there,” he said.
Neither Thoya nor county communication director Richard Chacha picked our calls.