First term governors are opting to use recommendations from taskforces to address complex problems facing their respective counties.
Coming face-to-face with the harsh realities on the ground, several new county bosses have appointed taskforces as they move to implement manifestos.
Since taking over office, at least seven county chiefs have formed taskforces, roping in professionals from various sectors as they seek to find answers to various issues bedevilling their counties.
Governors Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir (Mombasa), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Cecily Mbarire (Embu), Paul Otuoma (Busia), James Orengo (Siaya), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru), Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Simba Arati (Kisii) have all named taskforces.
On Friday, Nassir formed two taskforces: one on the State of Finances and Healthcare Systems in Mombasa.
Mahmoud Noor will chair the taskforce on finances.
It will have members from Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kenya Law Society, Kenya Revenue Authority, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, the business community and the civil society.
It will review the architecture of county revenue, patterns of expenditure and audit assets and liabilities.
“The taskforce shall prepare and submit its report to the Mombasa governor together with its recommendations within 60 days from the date of its appointment,” the gazette notice said.
The health taskforce will be chaired by former Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union secretary general Chibanzi Mwachonda.
Members will be drawn from Kenya Medical Association, civil society, National Hospital Insurance Fund, community health workers, department of Public Health, department of Medical Services and Coast General Hospital secretariat.
It will review healthcare service delivery, healthcare infrastructure and the state of financing for healthcare in Mombasa.
It will also evaluate the state of supply chains for healthcare, recommend medical facilities that need upgrading, assess and recommend strategies on addressing disease patterns and formulate solutions towards achieving universal healthcare.
On September 15, Sakaja named a seven-member taskforce to review and propose reforms in the county’s health sector.
The team chaired by former Kenyatta University vice-chancellor Prof Olive Mugenda has been given 45 days to review citizens’ access to quality health services.
Also, assess the status of all public health facilities and review the supply chain management of medical products.
“In the performance of its mandate, the taskforce may, as the need arises co-opt persons to advise or offer assistance on any area the taskforce may consider necessary,” Sakaja said in a statement.
In Siaya, Governor James Orengo has appointed a seven-member taskforce to carry out a forensic audit of the financial operations of the county government’s previous administration.
The taskforce will be chaired by former Auditor General Edward Ouko.
It will evaluate, assess and determine the county’s human resource establishment and revenue administration.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has formed a six-member taskforce to come up with solutions aimed at reforming the ailing health sector.
The taskforce is chaired by retired former director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health Francis Kimani.
In Busia, a taskforce has also been formed to look into the state of the local healthcare system.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
