Uhuru says county commissioners here to stay

President Uhuru Kenyatta. FILE 

By EDWIN MUTAI

In Summary

• President Kenyatta said only provincial commissioners and provincial departmental heads would be redeployed as part of the ongoing restructuring of the Provincial Administration.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has clarified that county administrators are here to stay, contrary to an impression he had given on Saturday that governors would be left alone to run county affairs.

President Kenyatta said only provincial commissioners and provincial departmental heads would be redeployed as part of the ongoing restructuring of the Provincial Administration. He said county commissioners, district commissioners, district officers and chiefs would continue performing their duties.

“I want to clarify that those who we recalled are provincial commissioners and provincial departmental heads but the other officers will remain in their stations and are expected to continue performing their duties as they were doing before,” President Kenyatta said.

There has been persistent squabbling between governors who came into office following the March 4 General Elections and county commissioners who were appointed by former president Mwai Kibaki.

The appointments created a rift between former prime minister Raila Odinga and Mr Kibaki leading to a court process that declared the county bosses’ appointments illegal. The case is still pending in court after the office of the President appealed against the court decision.

(Read: Judge declines to suspend appointment of County Commissioners)

Governors accuse county commissioners of undermining county governments.

The power battles raged last week after governors threatened to boycott Madaraka Day celebrations if county commissioners were allowed to read President Kenyatta’s speech during the occasion.

MPs have insisted that county commissioners be removed to end confusion and protocol wars.

President Kenyatta made the clarification at State House, Nairobi, on Monday after presiding over the swearing-in of Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia.

The President said the government is in the process of reforming the Public Service in line with the new Constitution.

The President’s remarks came as MPs vetted Interior and National Government Coordination cabinet secretary nominee Joseph ole Lenku.

Members of the Committee on Appointments questioned Ole Lenku’s ability to contain the rising wave of crime given his hotel industry background.

“I have the courage, commitment and passion to do the job,” said Ole Lenku in response