Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has called on residents to embrace unity in diversity, integration and cohesion despite their differences.
Achani urged residents to shun ethnic and religious differences, noting that unity and prosperity is the bedrock of progress and development.
She asked the people to live in peace because conflicts breed divisions and impede development.
The county boss called on the people in the region to unite and play their respective civic roles to help move the county development agenda forward.
She said divisions slowed down progress and if residents and leaders had the growth of the area at heart, then they must be prepared to bury their differences and live in harmony.
Speaking in Kwale town after chairing a meeting attended by county executives and chief officers, Achani said she will continue to work towards the unity and peace of the county and togetherness of all people.
Achani, a former two term Deputy Governor under former Governor Salim Mvurya said she will soon reorganize her administration, noting that she has the capacity to fix the coastal county to everyone’s satisfaction.
Achani is torn between sacking, retaining or reshuffling county executives and senior officials she served with during her predecessor’s administration, barely two weeks after assuming office.
She said the August 9 2022 general election was over and it was time for the people to come together regardless of their political parties, ethnicities and religions.
Achani triumphed over a male-dominated gubernatorial race to clinch the county’s top job, making her the first woman to be elected governor in the coastal region.
“The campaigns and the politics are not meant to create lasting enmity among residents, but it is democracy in action,” she said.
She has tasked county staff members to be diligent, effective and efficient in service delivery for meaningful development to take place.
She said public servants should discharge their duties with professionalism and work efficiently, while offering services to the public.
“Public officers should take service delivery seriously and avoid engaging in corrupt practices besides upholding integrity at all times”, she said.
The governor said the devolved unit would not tolerate laziness and corruption on the part of public servants in the execution of development programs and service delivery.
She cautioned county employees that it would not be business as usual, adding that her administration will not entertain officers who fail to perform their work effectively.
“Going forward it would not be business as usual as indiscipline, lethargy and corruption would not be tolerated under my watch,” Achani said.
Achani who was accompanied by her Deputy Josphat Kombo and a host of senior county employees afterwards toured the Msambweni county referral hospital.
Achani said her administration will strive to improve healthcare services by employing health workers at both basic and comprehensive health centres in the county.
She said her priority is in improving the health sector to ensure citizens get quality standard services and the health team to have an exquisite working environment.
“My administration will place strong emphasis on improving the performance of the health sector,” she said, adding that she will not compromise quality service delivery.
She went on ‘upgrading the facilities of the health centres and employing qualified health personnel to improve services will be our priority.’
By Hussein Abdullahi
