Chief officers in Machakos reported to work on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, after Governor Alfred Mutua welcomed them to their new stations, setting up a fresh clash with members of the county assembly over the legality of the appointments.
Mutua urged the officers to embrace the Maendeleo Chap Chap philosophy, saying speed should guide service delivery without sacrificing quality. He said, “We are working towards pulling Machakos from the Third World into the First World. I'm am confident that this new crop of young, fresh officers will serve our people with Integrity and purpose,” Mutua said.
The appointments drew immediate resistance from MCAs, who said the governor had gone ahead without the assembly’s approval. They objected to the naming of the County Secretary and 25 chief officers, describing the move as unconstitutional.
Speaker Florence Mwangangi said on Saturday that the appointments were illegal and unconstitutional. “It is worrying that the Governor has continued to make ill-advised and illegal appointments in the county Public Service,” Mwangangi said while addressing the press at the assembly’s premises.
Mwangangi linked the dispute to an earlier court matter, saying the High Court in Machakos had, a fortnight earlier, declared that some CECs were serving illegally without the assembly’s approval. She added that another case was still pending in court over the appointment of CECs.
According to the Speaker, the assembly received a list of 25 nominees for the positions of County Secretary and chief officers on August 1, 2018, from the governor. She said communication on the names was later received on August 7, 2018, before the list was forwarded to the relevant committees for vetting.
Mwangangi said the committees were required to table their reports within 21 sitting days. But MCAs allied to Mutua dismissed her position, accusing the Speaker of leading opposition members in holding the county government hostage.
For now, the appointments remain at the centre of a political and legal fight between Mutua’s administration and the county assembly.
