- Achani said she is forced to work with the acting CECs who have no authority to initiate projects or development.
- However, Achani has insisted that she will only work with people who will deliver on the promises she made to the Kwale residents.
Image: SHABAAN OMAR
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has raised concern over the delay in the approval of the county executives by MCAs.
Achani said the assembly has taken longer than expected to approve the CECs, despite submitting the list of the nominees for vetting two months ago.
The county chief said the situation has stagnated development and service delivery in the region.
"I don't have ministers, that means I can't deliver the promises I gave to the residents, their approval has overstayed," she said.
Achani said she is forced to work with the acting CECs who have no authority to initiate projects or development.
She said pressure has mounted as residents are in dire need of services as most of them have been paralysed due to lack of CECs.
The governor made the remarks on Thursday at Msambweni forest.
Achani said she is shocked as almost every county has concluded the approval of CECs.
"It is surprising, other counties are working, unfortunately, Kwale we are still pushing to have our CECs approved," she said.
She pleaded with the MCAs to hasten the process adding that there is no time to waste.
Last month, the county assembly vetted the nominees but then went silent on the next process.
At the moment the, MCAs are on recess but they are expected to have a special sitting next week to debate on the same.
During World Fishery Day in Shimoni, the MCAs led by Pongwe-Kikoneni ward rep Mwaduga Omar assured Achani that they will approve the nominees.
"Don't worry your excellency, we won't let you down. We will consider all your ministers," he said.
Omar said the county assembly has nothing against Achani and they will try to fasten the process.
County assembly speaker Seth Kamanza also said the ward reps will work closely with the executive to deliver quality work and enhance development.
Kamanza said working in unity was the only way to go to have good policies and development projects that will benefit the common citizens.
On her new cabinet, Achani sacked six county executives who served during former Governor Salim Mvurya’s tenure.
However, she has retained four in her cabinet.
Achani served with the CECs in the previous administration where she was Mvurya’s deputy for 10 years.
Those retained by Achani include; Health executive Francis Gwama, Bakari Sebe (Finance), Saumu Beja (Environment) and Hemedi Mwabudzo (Roads).
In the new nominations, Mwabudzo will serve as the Water executive, replacing Marting Kuya and his Roads docket has been assigned to Ali Mwachirumbi.
Mwachirumbi also worked as a chief officer in the same department in Mvurya’s government.
Roman Mwangome has been picked for the Agriculture docket, he used to serve as Kwale county National Drought Management Authority director.
Kombani Primary School head teacher Tamasha Yusuf Nyawa was nominated to serve in the department of Public Services and Administration replacing Sylvia Chidodo.
Chidodo is at the moment the acting county secretary. She took over from Martin Mwaro, who resigned to vie for the Magarini parliamentary seat but lost in the UDA nominations.
Mishi Mwakaole will now be heading Kwale’s Education docket and Francisca Kilonzo has been nominated to the Social Services and Talent Management docket.
Both Mwakaole and Kilonzo had served as chief officers in the same departments during Mvurya's tenure.
The duo worked under Mangale Chiforomodo and Ramadhan Bungale respectively.
The two former CECs resigned to join politics. Bungale vied for the Matuga Parliamentary seat on the UDM ticket and lost to ANC's Kassim Tandaza.
Chiforomodo went for the Lunga-Lunga MP seat where he unseated Khatib Mwashetani.
Achani is expected to sack some of the chief officers.
According to some insiders, Achani is rewarding his political supporters because it is believed that some county officials did not support her bid.
However, Achani has insisted that she will only work with people who will deliver on the promises she made to the Kwale residents.
She said her administration will not employ people based on friendship or ethnic alignments, but on their capacity to deliver services.
In her first meeting with the cabinet after she was sworn in, Achani told the CECs that they must deliver lest they get sacked.
"People expect a lot from us, there is no time to relax. We must work hard to meet their expectations," she said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)