- Most county governors appointed political cronies, supporters and relatives to the executive.
- Nassir said he will set up three teams of professionals to vet and pick individuals to fill the advertised positions.
Image: ONYANGO OCHIENG
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir on Sunday invited competent people to apply for the 10 cabinet positions in his government, saying the positions will not be a reward to political cronies.
Most county governors have appointed political cronies, supporters and relatives to the executive but Nassir says he won't go that route.
He has also invited applications for 16 chief officers positions as well as that of the county secretary. The decision is to ensure Mombasa gets the right people, qualified in their professional fields that they will be picked to serve.
"The law allows me to pick my own people, but I saw it wise to involve professionals to help me pick the individuals who will serve in my administration. We want to ensure we have professionals who also understand my manifesto and vision for Mombasa,” he said.
Nassir’s announcement comes two months after he was sworn into office on September 15 as the second county boss.
Speaking during a press conference in his office on Sunday, Nassir said he will set up three teams of professionals to vet and pick individuals to fill the advertised positions.
The governor said the committee that will vet the CEC candidates will be led by the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mombasa Chapter.
Other members of the team will include Mahmoud Noor, who currently chairs the Finance Taskforce.
Other members will include Pastor Ibrahim Charo to represent the Christians, Sheikh Ahmad Kassim former chief Kadhi to represent Muslims, Benjamin Njoroge former Mombasa Law Society chairman and a representative from the Mombasa Diaspora Council.
Dr Wilfred Githinji, a don at Kenya Methodist University, will chair the committee to pick the new County Secretary.
He will be joined by a representative from KNCCI Mombasa, Oscar Juma from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants Kenya, Mwinyi Bwika from LSK and a representative from the County Government Workers Union.
"I have advertised these positions and will like to welcome those who feel they are qualified to apply regardless of political affiliation, religion or ethnicity," Nassir said.
Speculations were rife that Nassir had failed to announce his cabinet because of interference from powerful political sources within and outside of the county.
However, Nassir downplayed the reports, saying he wants to give everyone an equal opportunity.
"Those are just rumours, it is actually not true. There is not even a single person or the so-called powerful sources, who I believe don’t exist, that have interfered with my government," Nassir said.
He added that the recruitment process will be done within the next 10 days when he will receive an interview list from the committees.
The CECM positions to be filled include Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, Water Natural Resources and Climate Change Resilience, Environment and Solid Waste Management, and Transport and Infrastructure.
Others will be, Health, Finance and Economic Planning, Blue Economy, Agriculture and Livestock, Public Service Administration, Youth Gender and Sports, and Tourism, Culture and Trade Department.
Positions for Chief Officers will include; Policy and Planning, Governance, Tourism Culture and Trade, Blue Economy, Agriculture and Livestock, and Youth Gender and Social Services.
Others will be Public Service Administration, Education and Digital Transformation, Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, Water and Sanitation, Renewable Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change Resilience.
The remaining dockets are; Environment and Solid Waste Management, Transport and Infrastructure, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Clinical Services, and Finance and Economic Planning.