Meru activist Salesio Mutuma has moved to court to contest the recent appointment of Chief Officers by Governor Kawira Mwangaza which he has described as unconstitutional.
Addressing a group of journalists on Monday, August 28, Mutuma claimed that the selection process for chief officers across various county departments was marred by irregularities, including the appointment of individuals who he alleged did not meet the required qualifications.
“Out of the 10 newly appointed people, 8 of them are below the job group S which is the qualification for chief officer. Some of the appointees are in group H, B, N and others L,” Selesio remarked.
The activist also claimed that the Governor made a mistake by appointing candidates from government parastatals and placing them in high-ranking county positions within the Executive.
Salesio believes that the county secretary, acting at the behest of the county boss, Kawira Mwangaza, should have let the County Public Service Board make the appointments and not the other way round.
Salesio also notes that the Meru County government did not follow due process while restructuring the executive.
“Restructuring of the government should be done by the cabinet, which should then be passed to the Public Service Board, which should then write to the County Assembly for approval” he uttered.
The activist appealed to the county government to reconsider the appointment of chief officers within the Meru County Government who have been acting in interim capacity for over six months.
According to Salasio's observations, certain appointed chief officers were already fulfilling duties in acting capacities prior to being reassigned to different positions.
He asserts that such appointments are in violation of constitutional provisions, and as a result, he maintains that these appointments should be quashed in court.
He is advocating for the nullification of these appointments and the subsequent appointment of qualified individuals.
The changes in the senior ranks of county leadership were made on Thursday, August 24 after key employees were accused of leaking confidential information two weeks prior.
In the changes, the Chief Officer in charge of Roads, Mr. George Kimathi, was sent on a compulsory leave as investigations into the leakage commenced.
Charles Mwenda was moved from the Finance department to the Water department, whereas Edwin Murangiri Mutuma, who formerly held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Meru Youth Service, took over Mwenda's role in the Finance department.
