Members of the Machakos County Assembly have finally endorsed the name of Dr. Ancent Kituku as CEC for Health.
The house also approved the name of Onesmus Mutisya Muia as the new County Public Service Board Secretary during a session which was presided over by Speaker Florence Mwangangi.
While tabling the names, House Majority Leader, Mark Muendo said they were satisfied the new officers were up to task in managing their respective dockets.
He however, told the house that the Committee on Appointments had rejected the name of one Scholastica Consolata Mbui to chair the Machakos County Public Service Board owing to the fact that she had already been at the helm for over six years and thus handing her the docket would be a contravention to the laws on appointment.
“Madam Speaker, the Committee on Appointments has dropped the name of Mrs. Scholastica Consolata Mueni as Chair to the County Public Service owing to the fact she has been serving in the same position for the last six years. Ratifying her name for the same post would therefore be unconstitutional although she can still serve the county in another capacity,” he told the house.
His sentiments were echoed by Mumbuni ward representative, Paul Museki who emphasized that one could not serve in the Service Board for two terms as the law was against this.
Museki who also doubles as the Deputy Speaker however, lauded the house for adopting the names of Dr. Kituku and Muia to serve in Dr. Mutua’s cabinet.
Dr. Kituku was first appointed to head the Health docket in an acting capacity by Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua in March this year following reports of rogue medics at the Machakos Level 5 hospital who were accused of moving essential drugs and equipment from the facility and later pawning the same to nearby private clinics and dispensing chemists.
Through Executive Order no.2 of 2019, the county chief also made far reaching changes in the administration of the health docket which had been dogged with allegations of corruption, lethargy and outright professional negligence.
By Samuel Maina/Stella Mbula