A group of young people in Murang’a have backed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to cabinet secretaries and other civil servants to desist from engaging in politics.
The youth said the president’s order was long overdue as some civil servants were reportedly abusing their positions to engage in politics.
They said in the recent past, some government officials have been launching projects without involving elected leaders purportedly to gain political mileage, especially in Murang’a county.
Led by James Mwangi and nominated MCA Stephen Chege, the youth observed that the directive will deter government official from launch any state-funded project without involving elected leaders.
“Some leaders have been mobilizing government resources and people to move around at grassroots pretending to launch projects but in reality they are fully engaged in politics ahead of the 2022 general elections,” noted Mwangi.
On Tuesday, the President fired a warning shot to cabinet and principal secretaries from engaging into politics and by using government projects to gain political favors.
Uhuru further cautioned CSs and PSs against starting new government projects without his approval.
The young people said in the past some government officers have been launching projects at personal level, something which implied the government has not been doing much on development.
Mwangi took a swipe at Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary, Joseph Irungu who last week visited Murang’a accompanied by many officers from his ministry to launch numerous water-related projects.
He said Irungu was using his position to campaign for 2022 since he had declared interest to run for gubernatorial position in next general elections.
“We have been complaining of people who are misusing government resources to do early campaigns, the president has heard our cries and now we expect that any project being launched with have the involvement of all local leaders,” he added.
Chege, on his part, said the president’s directive will ensure conflicts between elected leaders and government officers at counties are curbed.
He noted that PSs and CSs who are eying elective positions in next general elections have been disrupting and downplaying programmes initiated by current governors.
“It is now clear on how any government project will be launched, county elected leaders must be involved. This is the right way to go. No more seeking mileage by using government projects. In Murang’a we will not allow any government officer who will launch any project individually.
Chege lauded the government for many projects being implemented in the county saying the impact of the projects are not well perceived as some leaders purport they are the ones who have initiated.
The nominated MCAs appealed to interior administrators to desist from being misused by some senior government offices by mobilizing resources for them in the name of launching projects.
“We are much against misuse of state vehicles lined up to escort one individual claiming to launch projects. This must stop and interior administrators should avoid being engaged to dirty politics.
By Bernard Munyao
