Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime has reached out to MCAs to strike a cordial working relationship after he was sworn in last week.
Mwadime was elected on an independent ticket.
Most governors are from the same political parties as majority MCAs, making it easier to push through their agenda in the assembly.
On Monday, Mwadime met the ward representatives and asked the leaders to embrace unity and work towards poverty reduction to improve lives of residents.
He asked the leaders to shun politics of division to transform the county.
The governor said the time for political rivalry is over and that leaders should bury their political differences and focus their efforts on sustainable development.
“Campaigns are over and the electorate are banking on us for development projects. Let us work together to formulate a clear roadmap of transforming our county,” he said.
The county boss said he is willing to work with all the leaders, including contestants who lost the just concluded election.
"Our unity will determine our success in transforming the lives of our people. My administration will focus on uniting all leaders and serving our people," Mwadime said.
Ngolia MCA-elect Jones Mganga said the assembly will fully support the incoming governor’s development agenda.
“There is need for the executive to work closely with the assembly. We are ready to play our part to ensure residents benefit from devolution,” he said.
Mganga further said any disconnect between the two arms of the county government would derail plans to revamp the region’s economy.
Mwadime, who took oath of office on Thursday last week alongside his Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo, has been meeting different departmental heads to strengthen service delivery.
On Sunday, the governor also met with the county healthcare workers to discuss issues affecting the health department.
“We had an opportunity to interact and discuss a myriad of issues and solutions to perennial challenges the health workers have been undergoing,” Mwadime said.
He said the devolved unit will prioritise service delivery, especially in critical areas within the healthcare department.
“We will encourage engaging society and building participatory governance by giving more ear to professionals and stakeholders from different sectors,” he said.
The new county chief also promised the health workers that the county government will deal with salary delays and continuous education for career advancement among the workers.
He said the county is committed to ensure timely payment of salaries and payment of contractors who will be awarded different tenders by the county.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
