The recent collapse of Nyamira county assembly building that was under construction should not ignored. While concerned agencies are doing their job in finding out what led to the collapse, the incident signals how counties have become hideous caves for tenderpreneures while masquerading as public watchdog by instilling fear in the executive.
These camarillas have hijacked almost all county executive functions from recruitment of workers to awarding of tenders. Their manoeuvres involve not only making intimidating calls to officers in responsible positions but also physically camping at waiting lounges of executive offices in their efforts to push their agenda.
Of the affected executives, non-locals are the most endangered species especially if they do not dance to the tune advanced by these cabals.
Having experienced a working environment where diversity and meritocracy was valued, many officers who previously worked in the national government and seconded to the counties are the most nagged lot. Many of them are working knowing very well that they are at the mercies of these cartels.
For instance, it was recently reported that the Nyamira governor suspended salary payments to allow an audit to weed out ghost workers. Many counties have a similar problem with suggestive indicators that MCAs are the highest beneficiaries.
If this trend continues, public offices will soon be run as family enterprises. But what will happen should the existing political alignment collapse? Will the new power holders embrace the existing workforce composition? Time will tell.
MCAs have desperately shown themselves as a people drunk with power. If they are not coercing governors to award them tenders, they are pushing for their cronies to be hired into key positions. This is why they must have their way. Principled governors who have refused their advances have either been impeached or threatened with impeachment.
While some have survived the onslaught, others have fallen not because they were too corrupt but because they refused to cooperate. Thanks to the greedy MCAs. Terrible impunity. In some counties, MCAs are reported to be scheming for ways to meet and withdraw money from public coffers.
These and many other actions show there is a need to save MCAs from their growing appetite for greatness, power and wealth. To save them, relevant government agencies must carry out independent and genuine audit on all tenders and recruitment, and make public their findings.
If necessary intervention is not done, theirs will be an incurable impunity worse than any dictatorial regime ever witnessed in this country. Someone intervene and save our MCAs from own greed.
Communication and Public Relations professional
