The new Kilifi speaker Teddy Mwambire on Tuesday promised to embrace the spirit of devolution to help transform the county.
Mwambire, a former Ganze MP, said the previous regime formulated many laws which have not been effected.
He said he would ensure they are implemented so that devolution can be felt at the grassroots.
Mwambire said they are going to support the new administration of Gideon Mung’aro in formulating his government.
He spoke after officially being handed the instruments of power by his predecessor Jimmy Kahindi, with whom he served as deputy speaker from 2013 to 2017 before becoming MP.
The former MP said the county would be ready to begin the vetting of chief officers and executive members in two weeks time as the MCAs will be going for an induction to enlighten them on how to execute their mandate effectively.
“We want to make sure that devolution works effectively. For the last 10 years you have not seen even the so-called village administrators in the county of Kilifi. This is the time I will be so close to the governor to ensure we lay the foundation from the grassroots,” he said.
Mwambire said they will also play an oversight role to make sure revenue collection is perfect to bring in more money to the devolved government for proper service delivery.
The former speaker said he was happy to have served in the office for 10 years and managed to spearhead the formation of many laws.
Kahindi put the new executive led by Mung’aro into the task to ensure the laws are implemented for the benefit of the people of Kilifi.
“Their first responsibility is to make sure the laws are implemented immediately the county assembly begins its work,” he said.
Kahindi also said people thought he would be in the race but reminded them of the old saying that a good dancer knows when to leave the stage.
Mung'aro said he was happy that the process of electing the speaker and his deputy was complete and the assembly would begin working soon.
“When the assembly begins its work we will be able to do so many things that we are required to do. I am happy that it went well people voted smoothly and I congratulate all those elected," he said.
The county chief said the biggest task of MCAs is to oversee how the people of Kilifi are served.
He said they will also look into the budget for the next financial year so as to begin a strategy of executing their mandate which they were elected to do by the people.
The county assembly is led by ODM and deputised by the Jubilee Party, which makes it an Azimio la Umoja house.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
