Nyeri’s Gachagua reshuffles Gov’t, places 3 ministers on compulsory leave

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua has sent three County Executive Members on a compulsory leave in a reshuffle exercise that took place on Thursday.

Gachagua sent the County Executives on a 90-day compulsory leave and replaced them with new individuals, including a nominated member of the county assembly.

While reshuffling his cabinet, the governor also expanded his government by restructuring and creating new directorates in the Health and Agriculture departments.

Further, the Lands and Infrastructure and Finance departments were split into Lands, Physical Planning and Housing, Transport, Infrastructure and Roads, Finance and accounting and Economic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation departments.

The governor employed over 20 new staff in the changes made to his government, though he did not replace the Finance and Lands County Executive secretaries who were allegedly battling graft allegations.

He, however, replaced his Chief of Staff who has also been accused of corruption.

In the changes Lucy Wanyitu, who represents people living with disabilities, took over the Special Programmes docket from Priscillah Wanyiri, who was placed on compulsory leave.

Also sent on leave were Elijah Nguyo (Education, Information and Communication Technology) and his Energy counterpart, Joseph Kiragu

Mr. Nguyo’s office was taken over by Erastus Muriuki, while Robert Thuo was named as the new Energy, Lands and Infrastructure boss. The governor named George Kariuki as his new political advisor, a role formerly played by Duncan Maina.

It was however not clear if the governor laid off part of his team following the appointment of Mr. Kariuki to the advisory role.

Jacob Munene was appointed as the acting Chief of Staff, replacing Simon Wachira who is facing an integrity suit before a Nyeri court.

At the same time, Public Administration Chief Officer, Alice Wachira, will be the acting County Secretary, following last week’s resignation of Wambui Kimathi, a former commissioner with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

“Out of these changes, and for the positions that have fallen vacant or have been created, I am requesting the County Assembly to fast track the vetting process of the persons we shall nominate so that my team and I can get down to work as soon as possible,” said Gachagua.

This comes barely three months after Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma also sacked some of his County Executive Members accused of being responsible for the slow progress of the development agenda in the county.

In a similar incident, West Pokot Governor Mr. Simon Kachapin also sent County Secretary Joel Arimonyang, and executives Catherine Mukenyang (Health and Sanitation), Luka Chepelion (Roads) and Josiah Cheruiyot (Livestock and Fisheries) in July for what he termed as “incompetence and poor services” by officials.