Garissa Governor Nathif Jama says his regime will strive to restore people's hope and trust in leadership.
He said he has been tried and tested and returns on a platform of servant leadership.
Jama, who spoke on Thursday after taking his oath of office alongside his deputy Abdi Dagane, said it is the beginning of a new dawn in the county.
The oath was administered by High Court judge justice Recho Ngetich.
The governor said having been sworn in, the real work of rebuilding the county now starts.
He made a clarion call to the residents of Garissa to support his administration for them to deliver on all their promises.
“We all have to move in one direction and support each other to make this happen because we are faced with a myriad of challenges,” Jama said.
The governor promised to prioritise health, water, education, agriculture and livestock sectors.
He however hit the ground running after being declared the winner of the August poll.
Jama who vied on an ODM ticket garnered 69,342 votes beating incumbent Ali Korane who managed a paltry 26,148 votes, while Dekow Barrow of UDA got 13,602.
The governor started by restoring water after brokering a deal with KPLC to reconnect the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company.
He also held meetings with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority and they agreed to restock drugs in Garissa hospitals.
Jama said he is taking over a county faced with a myriad of challenges ranging from lack of water and a tattered healthcare system that is in ruins.
He however said despite the challenges being inherited, he is confident better days are yet to come.
“It is my sincere intention to give our county a momentous fresh start, aimed at moving our people from despair,” Jama said.
The governor further said devolution was premised on delivering a more equitable distribution of public resources to all parts of the county.
"I wish to state that as the pioneer governor of this county we had laid down a strong foundation for development. I am coming back to pick up from where I left and correct many things, knowing that our county is yawning for salvation,” he said.
Garissa Township MP Aden Duale said the county is faced with a myriad of challenges and appealed to the leadership to work hard on restoring services.
“The people of Garissa overwhelmingly voted for you as their governor because they were yearning for change. You cannot afford to betray their trust. You must and have to deliver,” he said.
DPP Noordin Haji who was also in attendance said going forward he will work with other government investigative agencies to ensure all those who misappropriated public funds face the law.
“Mine is a warning to all government officers including governors who might have in one way or way or another overseen graft, starting with my county of Garissa.
"We are coming for you and it will be very rough for all those who will be found culpable,” Haji said.
Senator Abdul Haji said the county leadership will work as a team to ensure residents get the much needed services they deserve.
The culmination of the colorful ceremony was a convoy of trucks loaded with drugs, that were flagged off by Jama to all the subcounties.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
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