Governor Fires 4 Cabinet Members at Midnight

Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia has sacked four members of his executive just moments after holding a cabinet meeting to review performance for the last two years they have been in office.

The four were sacked a few minutes after the meeting held at the county headquarters in Ol Kalou township, which ended at midnight.

Those who faced the sack were the executive committee member in charge of water, tourism and natural resources Simon Ngang’ a,  popularly known as Unicore, Muthoni Wamuiya of trade and cooperatives, Faith Mbugua of education and social services, ICT and Public administration Kariuki Mbataru.

Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia

Mr. Mbataru was already in the county boss's crosshairs since he was facing an impeachment motion at the county assembly over allegations of abuse of office and gross misconduct. A court order was the only string connecting him to his job in Kimemia's cabinet.

The unceremonious dismissal of the CECs came as a surprise, especially to Mr. Ng’ang’ a and Ms. Wamuiya who attended the inauguration of the Ol Kalou Municipality Board and the launch of the municipality charter, where Ms. Muthoni actively participated in the oath-taking as the acting county attorney, Nation Newspaper reports.

“As the two-year contract term for my county executive committee members nears completion, and as we begin the new financial year July 2019 to June 2020, it has become necessary to reinvigorate my transformation agenda through injection of new strategic competences for optical performance and accountability to the citizenry,” a statement sent to newsrooms justifying the dismissals read.

The statement further detailed the new appointments to replace the axed County Executive Members (CEC).

Raphael Njui took the place of Ms. Wamuiya while Charles Ndungu Wachira, who was the Ndaragwa parliamentary aspirant in 2017,  took over the water docket replacing Mr. Nganga.

Mr. Stephen Mwaura is poised to take over as the CEC in charge of education and social services replacing Mrs. Mbugua.

Mr. Dominic Murani who is the CEC in charge of Youth and sports is set to serve in an acting capacity in the department of education while James Karitu who is the Agriculture CEC has been appointed to the industrialization department, also in an acting capacity.

Governor Kimemia with some CEC members during a recent event.

Two of the fired CECs are reported to be eyeing political seats in the upcoming elections, with Mr. Ngang' a said to have his eyes on the Ndaragwa parliamentary seat while Mrs. Mbuguavhas her sights set on the Ol Jororok parliamentary seat.

Mr. Kimemia said the names of the new nominees have already been submitted to the assembly for vetting and appealed to the House to approve them before going on recess.

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