Updated:Questions as Governor Wavinya suspends Chief Officer

Ex teacher swiftly forced out 

By The Anchor Reporter

 Ms. Maureen Mwende, the Chief officer for Education has been suspended.

She becomes the 4th Chief Officer to leave  Governor Wavinya Ndeti's administration even if temporarily. Her exit comes within weeks of the departure of Decentralized Units Minister Joyce Mwikali Muindi who was excluded from a cabinet reshuffle that left her replaced by Dr Joel Nzomo.

Ms. Maureen Mwende

She was sent home in a rumbling communication to her by the County Secretary Dr.Muya Ndambuki headlined: "Notice to Show Cause"

The memo is believed to have been authored at the behest of Governor Wavinya,  given the latest trends in the county.

 The memo accuses the ex teacher of failing to attend critical county meetings and failure to to provide direction as Chief Officer. No specific reason was cited in her 'failures'. She was then required to show cause why administrative action should not be taken against her. It concluded by asking her to "proceed on suspension till further notice".

Yesterday, the Chief Officer for Vocational Training Mr Stephen Mutua was appointed to act as Chief Officer for Education.

So what reasons heralded her suspension?. Last Tuesday, Mwende skipped a meeting with Governor Wavinya as she attended to an accident she was involved in at Kyumbi Police Station. It was a carry over meeting from the previous day where her turn to brief the governor in the company of her minister Dr Consolata Mutisya aborted at the Governor's Kinanye residence.

It is unknown what exactly transpired at the briefing she missed. Rumours about her suspension begun swirling in the County shortly after the meeting but it was not until Friday when the memo reached her.

So what grave mistakes did she commit,grave enough to trigger her suspension and not clear enough to be clearly stated?

How many meetings has Mwende missed; what are the decisions that are pending as a result of her alleged failure to give directions as Chief Officer?

Updates coming. Stay Anchored.

Clampdown on trips amid fraud

How officials swindle
in fake,inflated trips

By Martin Masai

Editor/Publisher

Exclusive- April 22,2024

Governor Wavinya Ndeti has put emergency brakes to all travel bonanza  placing Machakos as the third highest traveller county.

Dr Ndambuki 

This comes after an internal memo signed by the County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki.

He prohibited all domestic  and foreign travel with immediate effect. Travel and funding will not happen without his express authority, said the terse memo.

The memo

The memo, sent to Chief Officers, Secretary/ CEOs and County Solicitor and copied to all county ministers, chairman of the County Public Service Board Mr Arbanus Mutisya and the County Attorney is dated April 9,2024. It reached Gov Ndeti's office on April 11,2024.

The memo tells the County Finance Department not to process expenses and allowances for "any officer" without his authority. 

Observers see the move as an effort by the governor to rein in rougue expenditure tendencies by the finance department. 

Previously, the County Secretary and Head of Public Service did not seem to know who was going where, when and whyPreviously, the County Secretary and Head of Public Service did not seem to know who was going where, when and why- a major weakness, if not failure for any administration. Not anymore. The directive,if enforced will bring sanity in the county travel expenditure management at a time when the Wavinya administration is under focus for deployment of most of its resources on recurrent expenditure rather than on development.

It means that all trips by ministers, chief officers, directors, and officials of whatever rank are dead at least for the time being, unless authorised by Dr Ndambuki.

Though the memo never mentoned the fate of pending claims, it puts to question payment of genuine and fraudulent travel claims estimated at over Kes 400m that are pending across all government departments.

The most notorious are domestic travel claims that provide officials with a low lying fruit for income outside the salary framework. Many officials, both junior and seniors have competitively and routinely abused this loophole with full knowledge of the administration.

An official choked by the practice told The Anchor, "The Rot is so rampant that 3 officials travelling outside 50 kms inflate the claim by adding 7 other officials and pushing it from Kes 200,000 to Kes 700,000. When it is eventually paid, the money goes to other fake people, and the genuine claimants remain waiting.

The source explained that besides adding names, officials add more days to the trip to fatten the claim.

The practice is done with connivance with influential officials such as directors and Chief Officers, who sign memos as authority to pay.

The claims, some genuine, are many and are lying in every finance department.  Finance officers pay claims where they have an interest like being listed as a claimant who never went for the trip.

Multiple sources say genuine claims take long to pay, waiting for months. Some made last year are still pending while others genarated two weeks ago have been paid

The source said the most notorious departments are Office Of the Governor( OOG),the Governor's Delivery Unit,(GDU)the Protocol Office, and the Department of Agriculture. In some instances, memos sent to the Finance Office in each department dissappear. Junior officers who have to take local training trips  use their own money, yet other non-essential trips for bosses are paid without delay. " The situation is so grave that the juniors have nowhere to raise their grievances because their bosses are their very tormentors."

The clampdown on the trips however raises crucial issues; will there be an audit to verify genuine and fake claims? What action will be taken on authors of fictitious claims? Just what is the role of auditors within the government system? Did they have to wait until the Controller of Budget raises the red flag?

Contempt case for Chief Officer in Kes 88m World Bank tender

By Anchor Reporter 

Governor Wavinya Ndeti's Urban Development Chief Officer Collins Adipo Otieno is enduring  damning contempt proceedings case over a controversial Kes. 88 million World Bank project.

wholesale market road

The case may see him jailed for contempt of court and using his own resources to pay for the contract he granted against court orders.The project also incorporates a solar lighting component. 

The case was filed by Seluk Investment Limited, a firm of contractors that initially won the tender for upgrading of wholesale and retail markets loop roads, St.Mary's Girls Primary to KWFT link Road in Machakos Municipality. 

On February 21,2024, Adipo awarded the tender to Hayaty Enterprises Limited in contravention to a stay order pending determination of substantive Judicial Review Application. Pleadings filed in court say : "However,in total disregard of orders of this Honorable Court, the 1st Contemnor(Adipo) have decided to proceed with the procuring process and have issued an Award to Hayati Enterprises Limited/ Mashteck Limited(JV).

It  states that the works had already started,which is a deliberate effort to render the case nugatory and a blatant effort to defy court orders.

Wavinya seeks new chief officers

By Martin Masai 

Governor Wavinya Ndeti's government has advertised positions for Chief Officers, days after leaving out her Devolved Unit Minister in a stealth mini cabinet shuffle. 

Today, she put up for grabs the post of Chief Officers for Inspectorate, Fire Fighting and Emergency Services,

Public Communications and Sewerage and Sanitation.

Last week, Wavinya, in communication from County Secretary Dr Muya Ndambuki, left out DU minister Joyce Muindi from a list of ministers shuffled from office. Catherine Mutanu was moved to Agriculture while Joel Nzomo was taken to Devolved Unit from Agriculture.Mutanu will however continue to act as water minister. Ndeti also moved the Chief Officer for Inspectorate,Fire Fighting and Emergency Services Col(Rtd.) Gideon Wathi Mbithi to Trade Ministry to serve as Chief Officer for Innovation, hours after a fist fight with Majority Leader Mr. Nicholas Nzioka. 

While both separately denied the scuffle, eye witnesses said the officials were pulled apart amid a fierce exchange of blows.

Wathi replaced another chief officer, Joseph Mutwiwa, who left under a cloud of fake papers.

Days earlier, Chief Officer- Public Communications Mr. Dan Mule Lemba  threw in the towel for yet unexplained reasons.

The last Chief Officer for Sewerage and Sanitation was Paul Muwili Wambua, and not Ms. Winnie Musyoki as earlier,and regrettably,  indicated. Wambua reportedly quit the post in stormy circumstances. The post is now held by Water Chief Officer Mr Yunis Guliye on Acting basis, notwithstanding hue and cry about 80 dams that allegedly consumed over Kes 300m, without evident commensurate works being carried out.

Nearly a week after the quiet reshuffle that left Joyce Muindi floating, Governor Wavinya has remained silent over her act, notwithstanding public anxiety, especially in Matungulu, over Ms Muindi's fate and many others who leave unannounced. 

As we went to press, Governor Ndeti had not responded to The Anchor's  enquiry about the appointments and neither did the County Secretary pick or return our calls. 

The public is left wondering what happened at the DU offices that forced the exit of two top officials on the same day - one to another office and the other to the unknown. Was it just the fight?

A day after Col. Wathi's departure,  former Nairobi PPO Francis Munyambu, was introduced as Director of Inspectorate, Fire Fighting and Emergency Services - a post that was neither advertised nor filled competitively. 

Sources privy to his recruitment say he wields powers previously executed by the Chief Officer - yet he had not been vetted by the Machakos County Assembly.

Observers are watching keenly to see if Munyambu will apply for the advertised post and therefore subject himself to scrutiny. 

Staff in the department are waiting to see how Munyambu will run the department where his son- Jackson

Wambua Munyambu is the Inspectorate's Deputy County Commander.

Wathi's departure from the office leaves a great deal of unfinished enforcement issues in the municipalities where staff,MCAs, and government officials, including ministers, are fighting to occupy empty spaces with kiosks

Informed sources also tell of an "impossible working environment" for the exiting and future Governor's Communications Chief Officer.

The communications team has close to 100 staff members who include journalists,bloggers, keyboard trialists, social media influencers, and other loyalists who only take orders from undisclosed officials. Some are placed in ministries where ministers use the to manage their social media pages. 

According to the Governor, the media function is domiciled in Finance Minister's office, the all too powerful Mr.Muia Kuyu.

"For one to succeed in that office, one needs to succumb to the reigning disorder, see no evil,hear no evil. But be always ready to take the blame when matters go southern, " said an official in the governor's office.

Nduva named EAC Secretary General

Veronica Mueni Nduva is the new Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC)

       Ms. Veronica Nduva

Nduva, now serving as Principal Secretary for the State Department for Performance and Delivery Management at the Ministry of Public Service.

The changes were revealed through a letter dated April 15 and signed by Cabinet Secretary for EAC Peninah Malonza.

Malonza announced that President William Ruto had changed his mind about nominating Mwende Mueke as

EAC Secretary General.

The appointment is contained in a letter  to EAC Affairs Chairperson Deng Alor Kuol.Malonza said Ruto had decided to vary the nomination of Ms Mueke.

"Further to our letter Ref No EAC 4/CONF./2/ Vol. 21(57) of March 15, 2024, informing of a Presidential Action nominating Ms Caroline Mwende Mueke for appointment as the new Secretary General by the Summit, in accordance with Article 67 (1) of the EAC Treaty; we write to inform you the President of the Republic of Kenya has varied the nomination of Ms Mueke to the position of the EAC Secretary General," the letter reads in part.

"The Republic of Kenya now presents Ms Veronica Mueni Nduva for appointment to the position of the Secretary General of the East African Community."

Mueke had been appointed to replace Peter Mathuki.

Mathuki, dodged by corruption allegations at EAC, is poised to take up another diplomatic job as Kenya's Ambassador to Russia.

Nduva will be the third Kenyan to hold the post after Francis Muthaura, who served from 1996 to 2001, and Mathuki (2021-2024).

Day in court for suspects in Makindu minor's defilement case

By Robert Muuo in Makindu 

Court proceedings for two elderly men for allegedly defiling a school girl and forcing an abortion opened in Makindu Law Courts today.

     Muthoka the Senior Nurse

The accused, The Chairman of the School's Board of Management  Mr Peter Mutuku a.k.a. Ngiti and a Senior Nurse at Makindu Level 4 Hospital Mr. Benjamin Muthoka presented themselves in court for the mention of their case involving a minor from Kyaani Secondary School  in Kibwezi.

           Ngiti, the BOM chairman

Ngiti, the main suspect in the defilement case appeared before Makindu Principal Magistrate Mr. Evans Mbicha.The Magistrate adjourned the case  till July 30, 2024 to allow the ODPP- represented by Ms.Melorene Njoki more time to avail more statements on his case.

Muthoka, who is charged with the abortion offence on the minor appeared before Principal Magistrate Mr.Benson Ireli for case mention and his case. It  was adjourned to May 7, 2024.

The two suspect where charged with different offences under Section 8 of the Children's Act.

UPDATED: Minister left out in Wavinya's mini cabinet shuffle

By Martin Masai

Machakos Devolution Minister Joyce Mwikali Muindi is missing from Wavinya Ndeti's cabinet in a quiet reshuffle, The Anchor has established.

The new postings were made personally to the affected officials through the County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki. 

Efforts to obtain comment from Governor Ndeti did not succeed since she remained mute on the matter.

            Ms. Muindi

The shuffling has seen Water Minister Catherine Mutanu moved to Agriculture ministry while Dr Joel Nzomo was moved to Devolved Units. Water ministry sources say Mutanu did not hand over to anyone and will most likely act as Minister for water until Governor Wavinya makes up her mind on whom to appoint. 

Her appointment as substantive Agriculture boss is a signal however that Mutanu is leaving the water docket that has been immersed in controversy over dams said to have been paid for without tangible works being done.

Mutano yesterday afternoon reported to her new office and introduced to senior staff

             Ms. Mutanu 

We also established that Chief Officer Col Wathi has been moved from Inspectorate and Emergency Services to the Department of Innovation in Trade Ministry to replace Joseph Mutwiwa Munyao, who was removed for using fake certificates from the University of Nairobi. 

                  Col. Wathi

The Anchor also learned that the Governor's Communications Chief Officer Mr Dan Mule resigned a week ago. He did not respond to a request to confirm circumstances leading to his sudden departure.

Muindi's departure comes after witnessing a scuffle at her Department between Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka and Col Wathi last Tuesday.

Her departure also comes hot on the heels of open disagreements with Col Wathi over mushrooming of illegal kiosks on any open space in the Machakos Municipality.  

News of the changes remain hushed.

Dr Ndambuki and Mr. Munyambu 

Early yesteday, the County Secretary (CS) Dr. Muya Ndambuki introduced former police officer Francis Munyambu as Director of the Inspectorate and Emergency Services. 

As director, Munyambu is escaping vetting by the County Assembly.  Neither was his position advertised and competitivel filled as per the law.

Those privy to the appointment of the former Senator Aspirant for Machakos say he will wield powers of Chief Officer. Munyambu has previously held position of Commander of Nairobi Metropolitan Police after being appointed by former Governor Evans Kidero.

Dr. Ndambuki convened a consultative Inspectorate Departmental Meeting at the D.U Headquarters. It was also attended by Mercy Mutua - Chief Officer of Administration and Decentralized Units, Mr. Francis Musembi Munyambu - the new Director of Inspectorate, Fire Fighting, and Emergency Services, Mr. Samuel Ngila - Machakos County Commander alongside his Deputy, and all Sub-County level Commanders.

Munyambu will head a unit where his son is serving as a senior commander.

More to follow.

Updated: County bosses in fist fight at Decentralised Unit offices

A fist fight between the Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka and Chief Officer Colonel(Rtd) Wathi broke out yesterday at the Decentralised Unit offices.

Col. Wathi with Gvn. Ndeti

The scuffle occurred at midday as Mr Nzioka confronted the retired Navy Officer over the impounding of two vehicles next to National Intelligence Service offices in Machakos Town.

Mr Nzioka

Those who witnessed the fight said Wathi hit Nzioka to the ground after a fiery altercation and name-calling.

However Nzioka did not answer an invitation to comment on the fight. The majority leader did not respond to our message and thrice failed to answer phone calls on his mobile phone. The Anchor sent sms message to both combatants thus:[09/04, 10:53 pm] There was physical fighting today at DU..(Wangondi vs Colonel). Is this true? Let me have your comments. Nzioka later sent a message to The Anchor saying:" Maybe, just maybe you need to tell one, just ONE success story" and did not respond to the fight. On his part Col.Wathi replied:" This is not true. The fellow came around intimidating me and I told him off. Honestly am not of his type and class and am not comfortable with law breakers who come leave their areas of work to attack others in their offices. This confirmed there was a scuffle but the Chief Officer did not admit punching the MCA for Machakos Central ward to the ground. 

Nzioka arrived at the DU offices to seek release of two the vehicles belonging to people alleged to be repesentatives of Asian Quarters owners. They had visited the Lands Minister Nganga wa Ngangani protesting that their land issues had taken long to resolve. While in the minister's office, a complaint was raised from the NIS offices that their two vehicles had blocked the office, forcing the intervention of Col Wathi.

Wathi called a breakdown that carried the cars to the DU offices. It is not known how Nzioka came to the DU offices to force the release of the cars. It is as the minister for Devolved Units was releasing the vehicles that Col Wathi arrived.

He confirmed to The Anchor that Nzioka had phoned him to inform him that he required the vehicles released. 

He'll broke loose when Wathi and Nzioka came face to face with one another. On lookers say name calling took center stage as Nzioka menacingly pointed at Wathi and soon, Nzioka was seen sprawled on the ground. Officials pulled them apart but each made frantic calls to Governor Wavinya Ndeti to raise complaints against one another.

Informed sources say Col Wathi has been protesting that his minister has been meddling with his duties, making his enforcement role extra difficult. 

More to follow 

......

Assembly report confirms that Machakos will not meet revenue targets

 

Deceit, theft, clumsy and sham
practices inform revenue collection

 

By Martin Masai

A report of the County Assembly of Machakos now details why the county is unlikely to meet its revenue targets.The report, dated March 2024 shows how county revenue collectors take cash from citizens without issuing receipts then enter the proceeds to the county payment till system. The revenue officers also take half the designated rates without issuing receipts.