County officials to be probed over performance

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

All Taita-Taveta County Executive Committee (CEC) and Public Service Board (PSB) members have been summoned by the county assembly to account for performance in their dockets.

The 11 CEC members, among them Deputy Governor Mary Ndiga, who holds the Lands portfolio in the county, will be grilled by various county assembly committees next week.

A letter from the assembly Speaker’s office said the CECs will appear before their respective committees while the PSB will be grilled by the joint committee sitting of Labour, County Employment and Manpower Development, and Liaison.

The letters signed by Speaker Maghanga Meshack Maghanga say that all CECs are to appear before the committees in person.

 “Pursuant to provisions of the County Government Act, 2012, Section 39(2), the Taita-Taveta County Assembly Committee on Transport, Public Works, ICT and Infrastructure requires you to appear before its sitting on May 26, at 8am,” said the Speaker’s letter dated May 19.

The letters are copied to the governor and various county committee members.

The PSB will be required to shed light on massive irregularities in the appointment of county staff, which have led to calls for disbandment of the board by residents and leaders alike.

“We want to know the number of county staff so far appointed and the areas they represent. The appointments have been skewed in favour of certain areas of the county,” claimed Rong’ee Juu Ward Representative Harrison Keke.

Mr Keke said the Board will be required to recruit people in a way that honours the county’s cosmopolitan nature.

“We want to see all communities represented. We do not want to see a situation where certain communities are left out of key appointments,” he said.

Orange Democratic Movement Chief Whip Jason Tuja said the CECs will be required to explain to the assembly committees what they had done in terms of project implementation since they were appointed by governor John Mruttu.

PERFORMANCE WANTING

He claimed there has been growing public concern over the performance of some of the CECs in project implementation.

“The performance of some of them has been wanting. We want to know from them how many development projects they have so far implemented in their respective ministries and the amounts used,” said Tuja, who is also the Werugha Ward Representative.

Speaking to The Standard yesterday, ward representatives threatened to recommend the sacking of those CEC members whose performance is wanting.

“We passed the Appropriations Bill in July 2013 but there is little to show in terms of project implementation. Disciplinary action will be taken against those who fail to explain why they have not implemented development projects in the region,” Keke said.

Nominated County Representative Mercy Mwakera said the governor should not be blamed for the slow pace of development.

“CEC members are the ones tasked with implementation of the projects, not the governor. Those who have been blaming him should stop,” she said.

Mwakera said political infighting among local leaders would further derail the implementation of projects in the area.

“Some leaders have been complaining that the county administration has done little in terms of development. They have been challenging the governor to tell locals how Sh2.8 billion allocated to the county for the 2013/2014 fiscal year has been used. Such leaders should go to the ground and see for themselves the development projects the county government has initiated,” she said.

Some CEC members confirmed having received the summons.