•In the new changes, Lenku’s blue eyed-boy, Alais Kisota was removed from the ministry of finance, economic planning and ICT along with his chief officer, Sankaire Tima.
•The new finance CEC member is Michael Semera, a professional banker who was picked by Lenku from Equity Bank where he served as manager.
Kajiado governor Joseph le Lenku on Saturday executed a shake-up in key ministerial dockets in the second-last financial year of his term.
In the new changes, Lenku’s blue eyed-boy, Alais Kisota was removed from the ministry of finance, economic planning and ICT along with his chief officer, Sankaire Tima.
The new finance CEC member is Michael Semera, a professional banker who was picked by Lenku from Equity Bank where he served as manager.
Semera was first appointed finance minister when Lenku took office in 2017 and later on moved to the water, environment and natural resources docket, a position he served up to Saturday.
His new chief officer is Lekina Tutui, who has served at the roads, public works, transport, and energy department with diligence.
Immediately governor Lenku made the announcement, residents of Kajiado took to social media in celebrating the removal of the two from the finance docket.
Those who took to Facebook claimed the two frustrated their effort of getting their pending bills cleared by the county.
MCAs object to the budget
Most of those who took to the social media are suppliers and contractors including local media houses, whose bills have been pending payment for the last four years, and yet the MCAs are claiming they have been factoring money for pending bills in every financial year.
Magadi MCA and deputy county assembly speaker, Joseph Masiaya on Friday last week said MCAs have been factoring in pending bills money every financial year, and the executive has not been paying contractors and suppliers.
Masiaya was explaining why the MCAs have declined to approve this year’s annual estimates on claims the executive have to explain where the pending bills money has been going.
Lenku, while announcing the changes, said the departments of finance and health were his major targets for re-organisation in a new move to improve efficiency in the second last financial year of his term.
The governor formed up a 7-member task force on the status of service delivery at the county health facilities that has for the last three years has caused public hue and cry.
Those who took to the social media claimed they lost confidence in the county health minister long ago and called for the minister’s removal.
Taskforce
But the governor gave the task force on health three months to table a report and recommendations on how to fast rack effective provision of health services in the county.
The members are; Solomon Mpoke (chairman), Soloi Nasore, Emily Sianto, John Kimani, Raphael Mutuma, Margaret Chepng'etich, Irene Koki and Daniel Kanchori (Secretary).
The former finance minister, Kisota has been moved to gender, tourism, wildlife, sports and youth as a CEC member, while Samuel Seki who headed the docket moves to public service, social services, administration and inspectorate services replacing.
Seki replaced Florence Waiganjo who moved back to her former docket of water, environment and natural resources.
Alex Kilowua retained his roads, public works, transport and energy along with Hamilton Parseina, who also retained lands, physical planning, urban development, housing and municipalities’ docket.
Others who also retained their dockets include; Esther Somoire (health), Jackline Koin (agriculture), Jeremiah Ncharo (education), Alvin Kimani (trade)
New chief officers
The new chief officers are; Lekina Tutui (finance), Francis Mbugua (roads), Eddy Gitau (urban development), Jonathan Kulei (medical services), Jacob Sampeke (public health), Francis Metian (public service), Sankaire Tima (governor’s delivery unit), and John Njoroge (chief of staff)
The former chief of staff, Neema Loitu) is the nominee for the chief officer (administration and inspectorate services) position