Meru County Assembly has unanimously approved the nine nominees for the positions of the Executive Committee members that were presented to the house by the new Governor Reverend Mutuma Methinkia.
This comes after a vigorous vetting exercise of the nine persons that was carried out on Thursday last week by the select committee led by Assembly Speaker Ayub Bundi.
The nine nominees include Elias Murega Julius (Sports), Janaro Guantai Gatangugi (Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries), Dr Denis Mugambi Muriungi (Health Services), David Bariu (Roads and Public Works), Baptista Muriki Kanyaru (Water, Environment and climate change).
Others include Reverend Caroline Karea Kaberia, (Tourism, Industry, Investments and Corporation), Domisiano Maranya (Legal affairs and public service), Dr Esther Rukunga (Education) and CPA Monicha Kaithiori Kathono (Finance and Economic Planning).
The tenth nominee for Lands, Urban and Physical Planning Joy Karwitha will be vetted on Thursday (April 24) after she replaced Kinoti Marete who resigned from the position before the vetting process.
While tabling the report on the approval hearings, Majority leader Patrick Mutuma registered his appreciation to the committee for the work well done adding that the nominees were qualified and well-fitting to their various positions.
“We also want to thank the Governor for following the due process in nominating the members of the executive and presenting them to us for vetting,” said Mr Mutuma.
The motion by the Majority leaders was seconded by Igoji West MCA Godwin Mutembei Mbiuki who said that the Governor had done a good job in nominating men and women of substance who have all it takes to move the county forward after dragging for nearly two and a half years.
“It is the right time we approve these nominees since we don’t have any time to waste,” said Mr Mbiuki.
Minority leader Mwenda Ithili said as a member of the select committee, he could attest that all the nominees qualified for their various positions and that is what the county of Meru has been lacking.
Majority Chief Whip Jim Muchui said he has a lot of hope in the team going by their credentials and that they will help them to deliver the promises they made to the electorates.
He also urged them to respect the assembly without ignoring summons as was done by their predecessors.
“I want to ask the team to understand that they have a responsibility of respecting us as we have a role to oversight the executive as well as other leaders,” said Mr Muchui.
Nominated MCA Doris Gakii exuded confidence that the team will help the new governor in restoring the county to its lost glory.
Ms Lucy Mukaria observed that the governor had adhered to the third gender rule in his nominations adding that the same should follow suit in other appointments.
On the other hand, the MCAs reminded the nominees that they have a responsibility to follow the constitution in carrying out their mandate and that they will not hesitate to take action against them in case they go astray.
By Dickson Mwiti
