Meru County Governor Isaac Mutuma, on Wednesday, March 26, took a swipe at his predecessor Kawira Mwangaza when addressing investors in the county.
Speaking to the media, Governor Mutuma urged investors who had fled the county over the past two and a half years due to toxic county leadership to return and help grow the county's economy.
"I would like to request our men and women who fled from Meru because of the toxic political environment over the last two and a half years to come back and support us in delivering services and development to our people," Mutuma stated.
"I would also urge all our brothers working in various sectors of the economy in this country and abroad to return and assist in building Meru together because Meru belongs to all of us."
He further declared that his leadership would be one of "inclusivity and consultation" as opposed to the prior administration in which he served as the deputy governor.
Mutuma took office on Monday, March 17, just a few days after the High Court of Kenya upheld the Senate's decision to impeach the former governor.
In his first assignment, Mutuma promised to prioritise the welfare of workers and civil servants, acknowledging the challenges they had faced in previous administrations.
He pledged a better working environment and improved welfare for workers, highlighting his first agenda to ensure they no longer endured the challenges of the past.
"I am aware that, as Meru County, we have been going through a lot of hardships, especially the staff and civil servants who have been facing difficult working conditions," Mutuma noted.
"We have discussed several ways to improve the working environment, and from here, the first agenda is to enhance the welfare of workers and civil servants. The second agenda is to deliver development and services to the people of Meru."
Before his swearing-in as the new county governor, Mutuma was an embattled deputy governor, sidelined from assuming office for months, even after the Meru Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and the Senate impeached him.
On March 14, High Court Justice Bahati Mwamuye upheld their decision, paving the way for Mutuma to take up the role of Meru County governor.
