• The new county chiefs were sworn in on Thursday and immediately embarked on a search for individuals who will be in their cabinets.
Image: BY MATHEWS NDANYI
New governors in North Rift took over office with promises of reforms, including staff changes, to improve the economies of their counties.
The new county chiefs were sworn in on Thursday and immediately embarked on a search for individuals who will be in their cabinets.
Most of the governors are already facing a crisis in managing allies who were involved in campaigns and are now expecting jobs and other favours.
In Uasin Gishu, Jonathan Bii, alias Koti Moja, took over from his predecessor, Jackson Mandago. In Elgeyo Marakwet, Wisley Rotich is the new governor after taking over from Alex Tolgos.
In Nandi, Stephen Sang was sworn in to start his second term. In West Pokot, Simon Kachapin is back in the top county seat, the same as Benjamin Cheboi in Baringo.
In Trans Nzoia, George Natembeya has replaced Patrick Khaemba.
Soon after taking office, Bii made his first appointment, naming Nicholas Chepkwony his chief of Staff.
“We plan to put in place a team that will quickly help us focus on the priority areas as we move the county to the next level from where Mandago left,” he said.
Bii has a huge task of picking his core team from hundreds of allies who were in his campaign team.
In Elgeyo Marakwet, Rotich said UDA, President-elect William Ruto and his political supporters stood by him throughout his campaigns.
“I am grateful to them and pledge to serve the residents of the county with great commitment and to the best of my capacity,” he said.
Key to the new governor's priority is turning around the budget to transform the health sector and enhance disease prevention.
Rotich has promised to equip at least one health facility in every ward with an X-ray and full haemogram machines, which he said will enhance healthcare provision.
“We also plan to roll over Kazi kwa Vijana initiatives through a hustlers' fund that we will put in place,” he said.
Rotich said he will also implement the Sports Bill enacted by the county assembly to promote sports in the county.
He said he will open three offices-peace desk, resource mobilisation and another for higher education under his Pepea programme.
The governor also said he will initiate half an acre cash crop farming for households in high agricultural producing zones in the county.
Rotich has also pledged to work rotationally from all ward offices in the county as part of public participation in leadership.
The governor said his government will provide a proper working environment for everyone and would address challenges that have over the years impaired the proper working of county employees.
He said his administration will carry out staff training and redeployment that is aimed at boosting efficiency.
He will also establish an efficiency monitoring unit to provide surveillance on public services.
In Nandi, Sang’s second term will be characterised by deliberate efforts to complete all projects he initiated.
Sang said his main focus will be healthcare, water provision, infrastructure, agriculture and basic education.
“My desire is to ensure that none of our residents travel more than five kilometres to seek health services,” he said.
In Trans Nzoia, Natembeya said he will implement the promises he made during campaigns, including increasing access to water in his first 100 days in office.
He has also promised to eliminate bureaucracies in all operations and be accessible to residents.
Image: BY MATHEWS NDANYI