- The lawmakers complained that the administrators continue to threaten them with contempt.
- Kindiki could trigger a radical shake up among National Government Administration officers(NGAO).
Image: PSCU
MPs allied to President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance have insisted that county commissioners who campaigned against them must be shown the door.
The lawmakers complained that the administrators continue to threaten them with contempt despite their party leader winning the presidency and forming government.
The Star understands that this proposal was submitted to the President when the alliance held its parliamentary group meeting in Nairobi on Monday.
Should Ruto accede, then the ministry of Interior led by Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki could trigger a radical shake up among National Government Administration officers(NGAO).
NGAO officers include Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners and Chiefs.
The KK MPs on Monday opened out their hearts to the President on how the county commissioners not only campaigned against them but propped up campaigns for the Azimio la Umoja aspirants.
The MPs also urged President Ruto’s administration to kick out parastatal heads who openly campaigned for Raila Odinga-his main opponent in the August polls.
Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe demanded that the administrators who went against their code of conduct to engage in politics.
“We are not advocating for a witch hunt, the exercise should not involve personal differences but those who acted outside their mandate must suffer for their actions,” said Kagombe.
Wajir North Mohamed Ibrahim Saney said the legislators were uncompromising that administrators who openly campaigned for Azimio must be punished.
“In Wajir the County Commissioner, Jacob Narengo was notorious. He frustrated us. He went to the extent of directing the IEBC to hold my certificate,” said Saney.
He added: “The administrators are trained to be apolitical but during this year’s campaigns they took it upon themselves to be used by the State to frustrate some of us. The Wajir County Commissioner is one such individual who should be removed and deployed elsewhere,” demanded Saney.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said MPs wanted the administration “rearranged to fit” in the Kenya Kwanza Plan.
“What we want is not for the administrators and State officers punished but we are calling for reorganization,” Nyoro said.
Those targeted include Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Samson Ojwang, Stephen Kihara of Uasin Gishu, Erastus Mbui of Nakuru and Rift Valley RC Maalim Mohamed.
And addressing the MPs last evening, President Ruto without elaborating asked the lawmakers not to be intimidated by some State officers who he said tried to interfere with Kenya Kwanza’s win at Bomas.
“I am a very strong believer in building institutions like Parliament this is the only way we can secure the country by supporting institutions so that we are dependent on them and not individuals,” said Ruto.
“You are part of this government; you campaigned for it so defend it fully within your powers,” he told the MPs.
During the elections campaigns, Kenya Kwanza candidates in some parts of the country faced the wrath of the administrators.
Ruto, then the DP, cried foul in many occasions on the administrators taking sides.
“We have learnt that there are people who are planning to use chiefs, assistant county commissioners and county commissioners to campaign for Azimio,” said the then DP.
“Chiefs should not be forced to break the law. It’s not your business to organise any political party. You are servants of all Kenyans, irrespective of whatever party they belong to. Do not subvert your oath of office; be faithful to the constitution. Serve Kenyans equally. Azimio should look for its own errand boys,” he added.
During the campaigns, Gachagua had then accused former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho of threatening chiefs and their assistants who were not campaigning for Azimio.
He vowed that the Kenya Kwanza administration would restore the respect of public servants.
“The Kenya Kwanza manifesto speaks candidly on the restoration of dignity and respect of the public service and refraining from using it to manage and interfere with politics,” he said.
“I want to assure our chiefs and their assistants within this republic, that the kind of humiliation subjected to their colleagues who refused to campaign for Azimio candidates will be a thing of the past in our administration.”