New County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for the Murang’a County government were on Wednesday sworn in to take up duties in their respective dockets.
The 10-member team who took an oath during an occasion presided over by Chief Magistrate Peter Ndigwa comprised seven men and three women.
During the ceremony held at Murang’a County hall, Governor Irungu Kang’ata observed that the new team comes when his administration has lined up various projects, which need to be implemented before the closure of the year.
He challenged the new team to take up their responsibilities with dedication saying the assignments awaiting them were enormous.
“The new team consists of professionals and persons with a lot of experience, who have left well-paying jobs to join the county administration. I appreciate you for agreeing to work towards changing the face of Murang’a in terms of service delivery,” observed Kang’ata.
He pointed out that the county government had already commenced working for the people of Murang’a, but nothing much could be achieved, he added, without having members of the county executive in place.
“Without CECs in office we could not substantively implement projects, we were just doing piloting and now upon your inauguration into office, we will fully act on the programmes and fulfill what we promised the people of Murang’a in our manifesto,” noted Kang’ata.
Some of the projects that governor cited for immediate implementation include the provision of food to ECDE children, a programme launched a week ago.
“The new team will work with the county assembly to ensure an elaborate policy is put in place to fully actualize this programme of providing porridge to all ECDE children in the county.
“The programme was launched last week for initial piloting in six wards, before being rolled out in the entire county by January next year,” he added.
Kang’ata further disclosed that upon completion of the vetting of pending bills and verification of members of staff, a report will be released next week by the task force carrying out the exercise.
This, noted the governor, will enable the CECMs to implement the recommendations of the report.
The executive committee, the governor said, will also embark on working on a supplementary budget expected to be passed by the county assembly, factoring in some of the projects, which will be implemented at ward level.
Meanwhile, Kang’ata defended his earlier sentiments on the proposed maternal policy, clarifying that he was misquoted on the much publicized issuance of Sh6, 000 to expectant mothers.
The governor said his administration is determined to curb maternal and infant mortality rate in the county by encouraging expecting mothers to deliver in hospitals.
“My proposal is to provide a token of Sh2, 000 to expectant mothers who are about to deliver so they can go and give birth in hospitals. I didn’t talk about increasing the population of Murang’a. A parent has the sole responsibility of deciding the number of children he/she wants to have,” stated Kang’ata.
The county’s maternal support proposal is yet to be approved by the assembly, but it is included in its health policy 2022-2027, which is on the floor of the county assembly.
Speaking during the same occasion, the county assembly speaker Johnson Mukuha advised the CECs to take their responsibilities with the seriousness that it deserves, promising the MCAs will play their oversight responsibility without any fear or favour.
He urged the CECs to work closely with the assembly in the formulation of laws and policies which will see Murang’a residents get better services.
The CECMs who were sworn in include James Gatuna, ICT and Public Administration, Mary Magochi, Water, Noah Gachucha, Youth, Faith Njoroge, Education, Dr. Kamau Kiringai, agriculture, Kimani Mugo, Trade, Dr. Winfred Njeri, Lands, Prof Kiarie Mwaura, Finance, Dr. Fredrick Mbugua, Health, and Njuguna Macharia, Roads and Housing.
By Bernard Munyao
