Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has warned county employees against being lazy and engaging in corrupt dealings.
Ndeti told such public servants within her administration to either change their ways or quit service before she cracked the whip on them.
She said some of the staffers engage in public funds embezzlement while others abscond duty even though they draw their salaries from the taxpayers’ coffers.
“I won’t tolerate corruption or its form in my government,” Ndeti said.
Ndeti addressed the press at her White House office in Machakos County on Friday.
“If you are a public officer and engaging in corrupt activities, I will sack you. The same message should sink on staff who have formed the habit of absconding duty. It will not be business as usual,” Ndeti said.
She, earlier before the presser, witnessed the swearing in of County Executive Committee nominee for Roads, Transport and Public Works, Rita Ndunge at the same venue.
A new Machakos County Public Service Board member, Christopher Mutie, was also sworn into office. The two were sworn in by the Machakos High Court deputy registrar, Mary Otindo.
Ndeti said she had received numerous reports from the public of some senior officials in her administration engaged in corruption and public funds embezzlement.
“I have never been linked with any scandal throughout my career in public service. As such, I won’t allow anybody to taint my reputation or put me in trouble,” Ndeti said.
“I will throw people under the bus before they ruin my political career.
She told County Executive Committee Members and Chief Officers to take full charge of their respective departments and be role models to the staff they lead.
“If you are running a ministry and you are corrupt, I will relieve you of your duties. How do you expect your staff to be if you can’t set a good example?” she posed.
The county chief directed her administration’s Public Service Department to be vigilant and ensure total compliance of all county government staff to the code of conduct in civil service.
“I want it to sink in the minds of all County Government staff that our principal obligation is to offer service to citizens. In this, I won’t compromise. Absenteeism, late reporting to work and absconding of duty will be dealt with swiftly and firmly,” Ndeti said.
The Governor revealed the County Public Service Board in conjunction with the office of the County Secretary was set to kick off the process of verifying workers' academic certificates and other documents in a bid to weed out those who had been hired using fake papers.
“If you used fake academic certificates to gain employment with the County Government, start packing in advance because we will soon catch up with you," she said.
"We cannot reward dishonesty while there are other genuinely qualified people out there qualified to hold the same jobs."
