New revenue structure as Kuyu purges officials

By Martin Masai 

The fate of top 10 revenue officers hangs in the balance after a second purge in the department by Finance Minister Onesmas Muia Kuyu.

        Ms. Zipporah Mutunga

Mr Kuyu (C) at the handing over event in his office on Tuesday 

In the first purge in February, Kuyu instituted a mass transfer of revenue officers as he deployed over 400 newly recruited ones in a move that embarrassed the department after the top brass found themselves with transfers letters to markets.

In the current purge, 9 senior revenue officers who served as Subcounty Revenue Officers ((SROs) and their director David Kakonzi are awaiting deployment as most of them complete nearly 2 months at home. Mr Kakonzi was replaced by Mr. William Otieno as Director of Revenue.

Kuyu has also created a new revenue structure where Ward Revenue Officers report, for the first time, to Ward Administrators and through to Sub County Administrators.

 Even then, The Anchor has been informed that these sets off officials are supervised by  Cordinators who are yet to appear within the county establishment, meaning that county revenue could be managed under a political framework. The coordinators are Governor Wavinya's foot soldiers who wield powers in the County.

The purge was ordered by Mr Kuyu and first executed by Mr Kakonzi. A letter seen by The Anchor that was copied to the 9 officials ordered them to report to then Revenue Chief Officer  Jace Senga the next morning. 

After they reported, they were guided to take their outstanding leave days to avoid occupying the parking yard of the County Headquarters where they kept idlying. " They took 20, 30 to 60 days, and the leaves are ending on May 28,2024" said a source at the revenue office yesterday. The expiry of the leave days now puts pressure on the department to make a decision on where to place them. 

When reached for comment, Mr Kuyu distanced himself from their recall, saying that his responsibility over the department  only revolves around policy issues. However, The Anchor established that Kuyu is the architect of the purge. Apart from posting directives on a wall with colleagues, the minister bragged at a meeting in Matuu " I have not only removed the thieves but indeed cut down the big tree", a reference he makes about Mr Senga, who was recently removed to become Chief Officer- Public Engagement.

Observers see the deployment of Senga as a mockery of a chief officer who shared his office with two other officials because he regarded  his work as public engagement. 

As he distanced himself from the predicament of the SROs, Kuyu referred The Anchor to Mr Senga, who handed over the docket to new Revenue Chief Officer-Ms Zipporah Mutunga on Tuesday,May 21, 2024.

Remove kiosks, county orders Wangondi

By Martin Masai

 Majority Leader Nicholas Wangondi is in the middle of a storm as works on a World Bank project come under threat.

Mr Nzioka

The threat is posed by  structures on a road reserve that stand on the way of the project. The County Government of Machakos, in notices sent to Wangondi, alleges that the  temporary kiosks belong to him. The notice was issued on June 28,2024, giving the Majority Leader 7 days to execute the order to remove the illegal structures that encroach on the road reserve opposite the KFA, Machakos Branch.

The structure entails about 10 steel cubicles built on one line that have been rented to various business people. On the back of the structures is a property belonging to the Kenya Postal Corporation that has been rented out to local traders. Kenya Postal Corporation has also demanded that the same structures be removed in a strange twist of events.The notice to Wangondi was authorized by Mr.  Evans Lumumba and was received by one Racheal Muasya, according to Inspectorate documents. She is believed to be a member of staff in Wangondi's office. The notice is addressed to Mr Nicholas Nzioka.

The county authorities had informed the Majority Leader that if  he will not have removed the structures at the expiry of the notice period, they would do it themselves. As we went to press, the structures still stand with the tenants going on with their business even as a deep trench cuts through the front of the stalls.

County officials have kept aloof over the matter. The Chief Officer Enforcement Mr Munyambu, on being asked when he would enforce the notice has never picked calls from The Anchor, underlining his determination to keep off the way where the Majority Leader is named.

Other county sources, refusing to be named since they avoid any confrontation with Mr Wangondi said the county was following due process before pouncing to remove the property.

When The Anchor contacted Wangondi to ask when he will comply with the removal order, he distanced himself from being the owner of the structures. He added that even if the county authorities pulled them down, he would suffer no loss because the structure was not his. He said the county should embark on an investigation to discover to whom they belong.

The project is World Bank funded and has been dodged in controversy since  Governor Wavinya Ndeti was elected, with officials eying the Kes 89m they found in the account. Due to the delay, WB has not  send Kes 1b it ought to disburse to support municipalities in Machakos County.

The stalemate has existed since the dying days of the of the government of Governor Alfred  Mutua. It is reported that Mutua wanted the funds used for construction of an air strip at the still born New Machakos City. But the Machakos Municipal Board chaired by Mr. Malcom Kateta resisted and Mutua ran out of time. 

The board, whose tenure is soon coming to an end, is fighting for autonomy to be able to run its programmes without interference from central or the County government but it has practically remained captive of high drama that informs well lined purses within the county. 

Matters have not improved after the arrival of Governor Ndeti.Since May  2023 when bids were floated for construction of the road by use of cabro, the tender has award has been rocked by court processes due to competing interests. 

Pressure has come to bare after the World Bank gave an ultimatum to recall the Kes 89m and pull out of funding the needy Municipalities of Machakos County. 

WB donates Kes 1b annually to Machakos County under the Kenya Urban Transport Improvement Programme(KUTIP) to be shared between Machakos,Mavoko and Tala / Kangundo urban areas.

The programme targets improvement of Urban roads to bitumen standards to make the Municipalities dust free and boost standards of living.

Designated PCSB boss quizzed

CPSB Commissioners face EACC

By Ian Ngali

Ms. Juliana  Ndunge Mutisya has recorded her statement over the illegal payments paid to members of the Machakos County Public Service Board. 

Juliana, who is about to be appointed to serve the board as secretary, was quizzed for hours at the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission regional offices in Machakos. She was approved for appointment by the County Assembly of Machakos even as the oversight authority knew she had outstanding issues that made her unfit to occupy the office. 

Investigators first reached out to Juliana through the County Secretary  Dr. Muya Ndambuki but had to do it directly when they were informed that she had resigned from her position to comply with a requirement to qualify for the position of secretary. Other CPSB members were summoned through the office of the County Secretary.

She could not however escape the dragnet because records show that she, along with other members of the board earned illegal allowances by purporting to attend the Devolution Conference held in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County between August 15-19, 2023.

Juliana was irregularly transferred to the board as  the Deputy Director Administration by Dr. Ndambuki effective  June 27,2023. The same day, CPSB Chairman Mr. Albanas Mutisya,  appointed her to act as Board Secretary for six months and ordered her to be paid an Acting Allowance at 20 percent of her substantive salary. She continued to act in that capacity for over 1 year until July 2024, when she quit to prepare to appear before the County Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting.

Juliana has been placed at the centre of the investigation on the illegal allowances. A letter  seen by The Anchor says..." The same was facilitated by the Ag Secretary, Juliana Ndunge Mutisya with full prior knowledge that there was no intention of attending the function except for the Head of Secretariat Mr. Paul Kivinda Muisyo who dutifully attended" The letter, dated July 7,2024 wanted action to recover the money from the officials. 

Those alleged to have been paid are Mr. Albanas  Mutisya( Kes 122,000), Ms. Mutisya(Kes 108,000), Head of Secretariat Mr. Muisyo (Kes 108,000) and Board Members Frankiln Makola, John Kimeu Kumbu and Ms. Marleen Misco Mwanika( Kes. 108,000) each. Mr. Makola first raised the matter and asked that the money sent to his account be recovered since he did not travel to the conference. It remains unrecovered to this day.

Our sources say the investigations are also targeting the Finance Chief Officer Mr. Bernard Kasanga and the  Chief Officer- Office of the Governor Mr. Charles Mutinda- seeking to know the actions they took to recover the illegal allowances.

Those who pocketed the allowances admit they did not travel to the devolution conference but had used the money  between August 13-21 2023, upon authorization by Mr. Mutinda. They claimed to have attended a ceremony to renew contracts for roughly 230  county staff who joined service during the Covid 19 pandemic. The staff are spread across the entire county and there is no way they would have congregated at a far corner of the county for renewal of contracts. EACC is also pursuing a cover-up plan that was hatched to deflect the investigations.

Mr. Mutinda allegedly wrote the letter they are clinging on on September 18,2023, long after the money was taken. It is believed that the alleged letter was aimed at stalling a recovery of the cash from the salaries of those involved. 

The cover-up story is not helped by the fact that  Mr. Mutinda reported to Office of The Governor on September 20,2023. Investigators want to find out how he wrote the letter days before he was appointed to his current office. When The Anchor contacted Mr. Mutinda, he could not recall the exact dates of the alleged letter and hos reporting but indicated he would be willing to clarify any action he may have taken over the matter.

The event is alleged to have taken place at Masinga Sky Lodge and there is no evidence that such an event took place. If it had happened, the county would also have paid allowances for secretariat staff, including drivers' allowances and fuel. Costs of the venue hire would also have been captured.

 

CPSB Commissioners face EACC

By Ian Ngali

Machakos County Public Service Board boss Mr Urbanus Mutisya was today quizzed by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) for allegedly pocketing illegal allowances.

                  Mr. Mutisya

                 Ms. Mwanika

                        Mr. Mutie

Mutisya and fellow Commissioner Misco Mwanika and former Head of the Secretariat Paul Kivinda Muisyo made a beeline to the 3rd floor offices at Kiamba Mall to record statements.

Mr Mutisya confirmed that he recorded a statement over the matter, along with other Commissioners and added that he has been in and out of the EACC offices over other matters he did not disclose.

" It is true I recorded a statement and explained that I refunded the money. The officer who made the payment confirmed all this to EACC", he said.

They were summoned along the other board members through letters sent to each of them which were signed by County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki.

Mr. Mutisya went to the offices in the morning and spent some of the time in an interview before he was led into recording as statement over illegal earnings over a false trip to Eldoret between August 15-19, 2023 allegedly to attend  the Devolution Conference.

The Commissioners, led by Mutisya were paid between Kes. 122,000 and Kes 108,000 each but did not travel. Those paid include incoming Secretary Juliana Ndunge Mutisya( Kes 108,000) Members Misco, John Kimeu Kumbu, Franklin Musila Makola(Kes 108,000 each) and Mr Muisyo(Kes 108,000). Only Mr Muisyo travelled.

Yesterday, Ms. Misco Mwanika was the second board member to enter the 3rd floor. She was first interviewed and then asked to record a statement before Mr Muisyo popped in the afternoon. 

Informed sources say both Mutisya and Misco admitted pocketing the money for use at a Universal Health Care meeting in Masinga.

Inquiries by The Anchor established that there was no scheduled UHC meeting for the board, let alone the county executive. It is alleged that a Chief Officer approved the use of the Eldoret trip cash in the fake Masinga meeting.

But Muisyo stated that the claim for allowances by the Commissioners including the acting Secretary, was raised and paid when they knew they had no travel plan to Eldoret.

Juliana, who had also been summoned did not appear before EACC. She is reported to have received the summons when out of Machakos. 

Last week, Juliana was approved by the Machakos County Assembly to be appointed as CPSB secretary- even as the assembly was aware of her questionable status at the board. It has become usual for the assembly to approve unqualified people after their appointment by Governor Wavinya Ndeti. 

Mr. Makola and Mr Kumbu are scheduled to visit the commission to give their versions on Wednesday.

The issue of the fraudulent payments has been alive in the county since July this year when Mr. Makola raised the red flag and instructed that what was paid to him be recovered from his salary.

The questioning comes amid cases of illegal earnings by Commissioners through the payroll and employment of hundreds of illiterate staff, some in their seventies, while the county has educated and youthful potential workforce. 

Read also: Designate CPSB Secretary quizzed

Wavinya Speaks

MACHAKOS Governor Wavinya Ndeti today came out from an undisclosed location fighting back claims of alleged detention in the United Kingdom.

Wavinya, in her unsigned statement, also alleged that her life and that of her family were in danger arising from the viral circulation of reports that she and her son Charles Nzuki Oduwole had been detained  by UK police over Kes 670m that was claimed to have been in their possession.

A statement dated today which she shared on her Facebook page accused unnamed detractors of authoring the rumours.The rumours, complete with screenshots of UK based individuals circulated on social media on Saturday and Sunday as Wavinya and her government remained silent while doing nothing to rebut them. The governor's silence has made it hard to counter the rumours during the three week surjourn overseas.

The Anchor was informed that Wavinya accompanied by Charles had gone to UK to settle her daughter as she joins university. 

Even then, her statement did not state her current location or explain her absence from the county. 

The statement laughed off the allegations that she was carrying the collosal amounts on her and that she was detained.

The Anchor publishes the statement in its entirety.

Wavinya looped into officials' public spat

Riddle of squabbling officials

By Martin Masai

Three top officials in Governor Wavinya Ndeti's administration have 5 days to respond to allegations of offensive conduct that resulted in a public spat.

Mr Metho

The Minister for Roads, Transport and Public Works Ms. Rita Ndunge Ndunda, her Public Works Chief Officer Mr Benson Kituku Metho and Energy and Electrification Chief Officer  Mr. Simon Kirima have up to September 6, 2024 to give individual accounts of what transpired on August 29,2024 during the public participation meeting in Mavoko Sub County.

However a letter seen by The Anchor  which is signed by the County Secretary Dr Muya Ndambuki places a collective charge against the trio. 

Dr Ndambuki said he had been briefed that the three were involved in an altercation in public

"Vide this memo, you are required to make a written statement on what you know about this(matter) addressed to the undersigned on or before 6th September, 2024", he directed in the August 30, 2024 missive.

Ms. Ndunda

The letter, headlined "Misconduct in Public", appears to show that the CS believed the contents of the brief  but treats the particulars of the alleged misconduct  as very sensitive, if not sensational, that the CS avoids  the details all together. Indeed there are questions as to whether the matter warrants the call for statements.

Governor Wavinya did not attend the event and other public participation meetings she likes  attending.  Her confidants say she is in the UK where she reportedly took  her daughter to school.

Cabinet sources speculate that Finance Minister Onesmas Kuyu, who attended the meeting, may have briefed the governor about the drama, prompting her to trigger the letter from the CS. Kuyu is known to have a frosty relationship with Mr Kirima and this may be an enhancement of their tiffs.

Mr Kirima

Governor Wavinya is copied in the letter. The CS may not have the guts to give an ultimatum to a minister without the governor's express authority and it is believed that the governor sanctioned the writing of the demand.

The matter, the sources add, may cause a stir in the cabinet, particularly among women because they consider her as one of their own who may have been offended and should therefore not be required, under any circumstances, to relive the tormenting moment in writing. Even then, it is also suspected that the cause of the spat may have been originated from the minister- a politician in her own right- because she is not known to shy away from confrontations.

Ms. Ndunda confirmed to The Anchor that there was an incident in Mavoko but firmly declined to divulge any details " I'm still very upset.I will let it to be handled at a higher level", she quipped and hung up. 

Mr Kirima also confirmed there was a protocol hitch between them and the minister  and added that  expletives in the Kamba language were uttered repeatedly as the minister tried to find her space on the front row where she found Mr Metho and Mr Kirima seated.

When contacted, Mr Metho denied ever witnessing the spat that the CS had asked them to give an account of. " She is my minister and we have a very cordial working relationship with her. I did not witness any incident during the public participation event in Mavoko", Mr Metho added.

Bursaries: An open letter to Wavinya

My Plea to Gov.Wavinya Ndeti, 

I humbly request you, your Excellency, to raise the bursary allocation from Kes. 120 million to Kes. 800 million per year.

This is because some poor counties in North Eastern and other marginalised areas are doing the same because they want to genuinely empower the next generation with quality education.

In my ward -Kangundo East there are 7 sub-locations. I have heard that during the first phase, each ward will share Kes 1.5 million. If this is true, and I believe it to be, this sum will be shared by my 7 sub-locations. It means each of them will get Kes.  214,285.

Madam governor, my sub-location has 9 villages. When this amount of Kes 214,285 is shared equally my village will get only Kes. 23,809. Can this paltry sum make any difference? Don't you want more young people delivered from the poverty trap by empowering them through education?

Your Excellency, your government has set a minimum of  Kes 7,000 to be awarded to college and boarding schools' students while Kes 3,000 is the minimum for day school students.

Going by this criteria, Madam governor, the Kes. 23,809 for my village will just be enough to be awarded to just 1 college student getting Kes.7,000,1 boarding secondary school student getting another Kes7,000 while  3 day secondary school students will scramble for the remainder of Kes 9,000.

This number  of beneficiaries is just too little as it is shameful, considering the scope of want among worrying numbers of needy students in tertiary institutions and secondary schools.

Their parents will probably be at the Chiefs' offices the whole day waiting for bursaries that their children will never get!  I guess you know this more than anyone else; don't you see that they will feel not only cheated but also badly wasted? 

Madam governor, the previous administration was allocating the same same amount and this policy made it quite unpopular.

Yet, during the campaigns, you promised to enhance the bursary kitty to correct the mess and benefit more needy students. What may have happened for you to change your mind?

I look upon you to address this issue with the urgency it deserves.The power to do this is in your hands. Machakos people bestowed it upon you.

Yours Sincerely,

Shah Kitusa,

Youth and Community Mobilizer,

Kangundo.

Why a dark cloud hangs over fate of CO Mutunga

Why CO cannot be in office 
yet he quit or was interdicted

By The Anchor Writer

THE FATE of Governor Wavinya's  Chief officer for Cooperative Development Anthony Mutunga Mutuku remains unclear even after The Anchor established that the official had been interdicted.

Mr. Anthony Mutunga

His interdiction has been looming for over a month since he was asked to account for close to Kes 10m Our sources at the Cooperatives ministry say the cash- initially some Kes 11m had been set aside for a Coffee Research project.

When the 14 day notice he had been given by the County Secretary Dr Muia Ndambuki elapsed, the CS interdicted him and required the lawyer CO to account for the money.

Sources close to Mr. Mutunga say at this time, he contemplated quitting his job or even taking legal action to save his name. 

The grapevine has it the cash in question has been reducing since part of it - Kes 5m-was handed over in cash to a top county official who we cannot name until the official responds to a query over the alleged hand-over. It is also said that  a close relative of the top honcho was handed another Kes 2m- a practice that county officials say is a routine practice in the Wavinya Ndeti administration. We have not been told who and where the cash was handed over.

These below -the- desk transactions must have slashed the money by Kes 7 m and observers wonder how corruption money can be accounted for without incriminating bosses up and downwards.

It is alleged that close to Kes10m is unaccounted for and if this is the actual situation, one can see why the money will never be accounted for since those who collected the money appear to be 'County Untouchables'

Read Also : http://theanchormedia.blogspot.com/2024/04/wavinya-suspends-chief-officer.html

It is also rumored that Mutunga is interested in vying for Matungulu parliamentary seat come 2027, increasing pressure upon him that greets officials with political ambition who are seen as future challengers to the powers that be in the county.

But as word went round that Mutunga was out of the county government either through resignation or interdiction, adding to what is seen as mass exodus from the Wavinya  administration, a spin was added to his departure. The spin was that he was quitting due to "... Pressure to transfer Ksh. 67 million to Wavinya to cover her expenses during a foreign trip. The funds were reportedly demanded for "upkeep"" This claim remains unsubstantiated.

As this posting on the social media went viral, The Anchor can authoritatively reveal that  the viral post caught the attention of Governor Wavinya and she re-shared it among her top officials, triggering an effort to push back the allegations by Wavinya's handlers. 

Later in the day, a rare Press Statement, in fact, the first in the Department of Cooperatives was issued saying " My attention has been drawn to baseless and malicious propaganda post circulating on various social media platforms  alleging that I'm no longer in service with the County Government of Machakos." The statement added " For the avoidance of doubt, the said post is baseless, malicious and ill intended to malign the great reputation of H.E the County Government of Machakos(Sic) and myself. The same should be treated with the contempt it deserves. I remain steadfast in discharging my duties and responsibilities for the benefit of the people of Machakos County"

Observers believe that the statement attributed to Mr. Mutunga was either drafted by officials in Wavinya's government to save face and if it was indeed signed by the CO, it may have been an act of treading horses between him and the county government. Communications Chief Officer  Joyce Gituro told The Anchor that Mutunga had neither resigned nor been interdicted.

It cannot be out of nothing that Mutunga was asked to account for money, an act that was followed by a letter of interdiction, followed by the claim Kes 67m to support Wavinya's trip abroad. 

Be that as it may, the truth is that Mr Mutunga cannot have resigned, been interdicted or remain in office all at the same time; That there is a murky story being hidden is not in doubt. Only time will tell.

Your unstoppable next Secretary to CPSB

The Machakos Assembly has no history
of rejecting any unqualified nominee

By Martin Masai,

Editor/ Publisher

Just as reported in The Anchor, the meteoric rise of one Juliana Ndunge Mutisya seems unstoppable.

On August 26,2024, the Machakos County Assembly vetted Juliana for the post of Secretary of the County Public Service Board even as she stood infringing one requirement for the job.

Juliana Mutisya

It comes as no surprise because the Machakos County Assembly has a record of approving unqualified people for appointment to various county positions- meaning that it is increasingly becoming incapable of discharging one of its mandates.

The Anchor has a record of unqualified nominees who have been approved by the Machakos County Assembly.

Juliana was recruited as a Deputy Director of Administration- Job Group Q- for a 5 year contract on June 5,2023. and has swiftly hopped to the top of a key organ of the county government.

To illustrate the speedy rise, County Secretary Dr Muya Ndambuki, quickly set the upward mobility for Juliana exactly 21 days after she was hired.

On June 26, 2023, she was catapulted from her role as Deputy Director of Administration, a position to which she was appointed with 18 others, and posted to the County Public Service Board.

CPSB is an autonomous entity of the county, complete with its Chairman and Commissioners approved by the County Assembly. By law, the CPSB recruits and appoints its staff and those of the county government, including the County Secretary, so there is no circumstance where a CS can transfer, dismiss or appoint anyone to or from the board that hired him or her. 

Mrs. Rose Mwanthi

Upon landing at the board, without any board resolution, the next day, the CPSB Chairman Mr Albanus Mutisya appointed her as Acting Secretary to the Board, a position she holds with hefty additional allowances. She was instantly upgraded from Job Group Q to R. Mutisya also granted her an Acting Allowance- 20 percent of her basic salary until a board Secretary is recruited.

Dr. Ndambuki, apparently responding to concerns by Mutisya that her contract acted to save her. So on January 15,2024 the County Secretary decreed in a letter this " I hereby renew Juliana Mutisya's contract as the Acting Secretary to the board for a period not exceeding three months from the date of this letter, or until the board substantively fills the position, whichever comes earlier"

Three months later, Juliana's contract had ended and the position of the Secretary had not been filled.

Explaining the reasons behind the delay in filling the post, the CS wrote to Mr. Mutisya thus " In view of the above then, I request the board to consider reviewing the contract of Mrs. Juliana Mutisya P/N0, 2023924529 to act for a period not exceeding three months from the date of expiration of her contract" The CS who on January 15,2024 renewed Juliana's contract was the same one requesting for the extension of the same contact in April 12!.

Be that as it may, the C Selection Panel put together to recruit the board Secretary announced a vacancy for the post through a public announcement on Thursday June 20, 2024, calling for qualified and interested persons to apply.

Among the many requirements set for the applicants was that one should not be a Public Officer. It meant that anyone applying for the job should not be an employee of not just the Machakos County Government, but the entire Kenyan public service.

Mrs. Mutisya applied and appeared before the panel on July 7, 2024, when she still had an active contract as Acting Secretary to the board- meaning she should not have been shortlisted by the panel, let alone getting audience before them. During her vetting, she was asked to provide proof of resignation and she provided a resignation letter.

She tendered her resignation on July 9, 2024, writing to Dr. Ndambuki " This letter is to inform you of my decision to resign from the Machakos County Public Service as a Deputy Director Administration." She gave a one month notice, meaning she would exit the employment at the end of August 2024.

Mr Mutisya told The Anchor that she has since tendered her resignation to him from the post of Acting Secretary. Mrs. Mutisya did not respond to an inquiry from The Anchor why she opted to resign from the lesser position and the fate of the contract as Acting Secretary.

She appeared before the assembly for vetting on August 26, 2024. As we went to Press, the Assembly Committee on Appointments had retreated to Nairobi to prepare a report about her vetting.

Juliana was vetted the same day with Mrs. Rose Kamene Mwanthi, the CECM nominee for Water, Irrigation, Climate Change and Environment. The committee will be presenting a report with recommendations to the whole House for consideration. Rose, a banker by profession from Kyamwilu, who is leaving her position at Family Bank will be taking over the water docket from Catherine Mutanu, the current minister for Agriculture.

Read the previous article over the same matter here; http://theanchormedia.blogspot.com/2024/07/impunity-marks-officials-rise-to.html

Anxiety in Kathiani as Wavinya names Kasivu acting health boss

By The Anchor Writer

Governor Wavinya Ndeti has appointed Medical Services Chief Officer Justus Kasivu to act as Health Minister. Mr Kasivu will temporarily replace  Dr. Daniel Yumbya  who quit office three weeks ago.

                   Mr Kasivu

 appointment comes as Kathiani Sub County watches with abated breath to see who will take positions previously held by area residents or who will be next to exit.

Wavinya has purged her Chief of Staff Lawrence Ngovi, and former Lands Minister Philip Kilonzo within 23 months. Though Kilonzo hails from Mavoko, there is a tendency to view the sub county  as part of Kathiani the Constituency from which it was hived off.

She has put on perennial suspension Chief Officer Maureen Mwende and pressured Yumbya to resignation three weeks ago. The first minister to quit her government was Sky Muasya. They all come from Kathiani and their replacements come from elsewhere.

That most of those who have left come from the same area, it has left tongues wagging over the governor's possible beef with Kathiani.

Kasivu will combine this role with that of CO, a manifestation of the confidence the governor has in him to run the two offices simultaneously as she mulls  over the person to succeed Dr Yumbya.

Kasivu flexed his new muscle last weekend when he signed a letter to all senior staff who include Directors, Medical Superintendents and Sub County Medical Officers of Health(MOHs) where he warned all staff to cease operating  pharmacies while still in service of the government.

'"All county employees within the Department of Health are therefore directed to cease operation of Pharmacy outlets while engaged in active employment with the County Government of Machakos," Mr. Kasivu said.

The Acting Minister raised concern that several departmental workers had opened pharmacies, whose operations were presenting a conflict of interest. It is believed that such staff are the cause of wanton theft of medicines procured by public hospitals that find their way in the outlets.

Petitioners act against land grabbing in Mavoko

By The Anchor Writer

Sabaki Residents Association has petitioned the County Assembly of Machakos to intervene against actions to re-plan and allocate land and stop the County Lands Minister Nathaniel Nganga from interfering with a parcel of land LR. 26699/27, public utility land in Sabaki, Mavoko County.

Speaker Anne Kiusya

The Speaker Anne Kiusya has committed the petition to the Lands and Energy Committee to report back to the Assembly within sixty calendar days. The petitioners’ want the assembly to resolve 9 grievances against the County Executive's alleged infringement on their land rights.

Petitioners seek an urgent resolution of the matter and the likely loss of public land if no action is taken as a priority. They want the assembly to investigate the matter and stop the CECM from interfering with public utility land within Sabaki Estate without consulting them.

They are also seeking assembly help to preserve their public utility plots in having them used for their intended purposes. Sabaki Residents Associations are also seeking help to reclaim any other plots that may have been illegally allocated, appropriated, occupied, developed, transferred or grabbed.

The petitioners are also calling on the County executive to "undertake comprehensive, meaningful and all-inclusive public participation in all matters relating to public Land"

They seek to "impress upon the County Executive, particularly the CECM for Land, Housing Urban Development and Energy to exercise executive power in accordance with the law by ensuring transparency, openness, accountability and proper use of public office in the administration of public land"

The petition requires the "County Executive to work with Sabaki Residents Association to identify, consolidate, document, title, safeguard and protect all public utility land within Sabaki Estate to the utilized for the intended purposes", rather than going at it as a lone ranger in a property where the locals have a bigger say.

They are also seeking an audit of all development plans within the county to ensure that they have been done legally and procedurally, to meet the people’s needs are coherent and in line with progressive development plans and aspiration and take any remedial measures.

Turmoil in Ndeti's Government sees the fall of fourth minister

By Martin Masai

Turmoil in Governor Wavinya Ndeti's government continued to unfold today with the abrupt departure of the ultra loyalist minister- Daniel Yumbya.

It is a significant blow  not just to wavinya but indeed to the county's already fragile healthcare system that Yumbya has propped since his appointment 23 months ago.

Governor Wavinya acknowledged the resignation this evening in a two paragraph statement she personally signed, thanking him for his services to the County.

Dr. Yumbya quit today as County Executive Committee Member for Health, becoming the fourth minister to exit. He now joins Sky Muasya who quit and later followed by Joyce Mwikali Muindi and Mr. Phillip Kilonzo who was dismissed. 

A handful of Chief Officers have resigned, the latest being Dr Wycliffe Miyienda,who was Yumbya's Medical Services Chief. That a Health Minister and Medical Services Chief Officer have resigned almost within one month is indicative of a terminal epidemic with the government.

Dr. Yumbya has faced mounting challenges since February in his bid to show stability in the county's hospitals, which have been plagued by a series of debilitating issues.

Hospitals across the county are in disarray, struggling with a myriad of problems ranging from dysfunctional mortuaries, a severe shortage of medical equipment and a critical lack of medicine, not to mention disgruntled staff.

The situation has been exacerbated by demoralized healthcare staff and the closure of intensive care units (ICUs) due to rampant shortage of materials for use.

Hospitals are on record for running without food for patients- a situation that Yumbya has categorically denied and put up shows of a well functioning system.

Insiders speak of a minister cornered not just by his own denials but also by also by  corruption networks that oscillate across the entire government and are underpinned by cutthroat psychophantic. 

A doctor reacted to Yumbya's resignation saying " It's a welcome, move considering he never listened to anyone even on technical matters". Yumbya holds a honorary doctorate degree.

His resignation is the latest in a series of high-profile departures of officials from Kathiani sub-county. His exit  Comes closely on the heels of Mr. Lawrence Ngovi,Wavinya's Chief of Staff, who recently dismissed during a cabinet meeting. This departure marks the sixth individual from Kathiani to leave their government posts in recent months, underscoring the turmoil within the government. 

Others are Mr Kilonzo,Mr Mutunga and suspended ECDE Chief Officer Maureen Mwende.

The departures will complicate Wavinya's politics and relationships in Kathiani Subcounty with its significant representation in her government being whittled down.The cumulative effect of these resignations has raised concerns about the stability and functionality of the county's leadership, especially in managing critical sectors like healthcare.

See earlier story here 

https://theanchormedia.blogspot.com/2024/08/turmoil-in-ndetis-government-sees-fall.html

Residents and healthcare workers alike are expressing their frustration and fear over the deteriorating state of medical services. "We are facing a healthcare crisis of unprecedented proportions," said a senior nurse who wished to remain anonymous. "The lack of essential medical supplies and equipment, coupled with the loss of experienced leadership, is a recipe for disaster.

"The resignation of Dr. Yumbia, a figure seen by many as a potential stabilizing force, leaves the county's healthcare system in an even more precarious position. With ICUs shut down and hospitals struggling to provide basic care, the urgency for effective governance and immediate remedial action has never been higher.

As the county searches for new leadership in healthcare, the pressing question remains: who will step up to address the healthcare crisis and restore order in the beleaguered hospitals?

The need for a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the healthcare system is critical to ensuring that residents receive the medical care they desperately need.

Yumbya's humiliating exit

By The Anchor Writer 

Governor Wavinya Ndeti's   management intrigues heralded the departure of her ultra loyalist minister- Dr. Daniel Yumbya late on Thursday. 

        The Yumbya Leaks

The Anchor can now reveal that Dr Yumbya read writings on the wall hours after the ouster of Chief of Staff Mr. Lawrence Ngovi last week.

It is the culmination of a scathing, dramatic power struggle that now  leaves Governor Ndeti, her Finance Minister Onesmus Kuyu and her son- Charles Nzuki  he who has no official role but is an all too powerful lad and a permanent attendee to cabinet meetings-  in the middle of the theatre.

On Thursday last week, Yumbya got classified information that the Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi had been assigned  by Governor Wavinya to sniff around the Department of Health.

Come Friday, and to Yumbya's disbelief, the DG wrote an invitation to all hospital administrators, county medical officers, and medical superintendents for a meeting on Thursday this week. 

The letter was copied to Yumbya and his  three chief officers. The same day, an Acting Chief officer Eng Gregory Nthenge (who has not been vetted by the county assembly) was named at Roads docket to enable medical chief officer Justus Kasivu to concentrate on one job at the ministry of health. He was acting as CO roads.

 On Friday, Yumbya packed his personal effects in cartons in readiness to ship out.

Yumbya presumed that the breach of protocol in the invitations to a meeting in his department was one of the many goofs he had witnessed in the county.

He, together with the COs, arrived early for the meeting.

But as the meeting opened, with Mr Mwangangi making his 'climate setting' remarks, he asked Dr Yumbya and his COs to step out of the meeting.

The meeting immediately went into a daggers- drawn mode and wobbled into the afternoon. 

During this time,Yumbya,  a man who hardly drops fights, told a friend he can not wait to be sacrificed when EACC comes knocking(See attached screen shot).

The DG's bold step to expell the minister, he explained, was to facilitate transparency,  allowing medical practitioners to voice their concerns directly to him.

This unprecedented move was designed, besides unearthing the root causes of the challenges besetting the health department, including malfunctioning mortuaries, a severe lack of medical equipment, insufficient medicine supplies, demoralized staff, and the closure of intensive care units (ICUs), it targeted cutting Dr Yumbya to size by humiliating him infront of a team he never quite listened to. 

The Anchor was told that the audience was surprised that anyone could lock Yumbya out of a meeting discussing health matters in the county.

The sudden resignation of Dr. Yumbya brings to light deeper systemic issues within the health department. It underscores the need for robust oversight, accountability, and a culture of transparency within the county's administration. Moving forward, it will be crucial for Governor Ndeti and her team to implement stringent measures to prevent such a crisis from recurring and to rebuild trust within the healthcare system.

The county's leadership must prioritize the recruitment of competent and committed professionals to fill the vacated positions and ensure that the health department is equipped with the necessary resources and support. The well-being of Machakos County's residents hinges on the swift and effective resolution of this healthcare crisis.

https://theanchormedia.blogspot.com/2024/08/turmoil-in-ndetis-government-sees-fall.html

Yumbya quits Wavinya regime

By The Anchor Writer

Machakos Health Minister Dr Daniel Munyao Yumbya quit his position this afternoon.

            Dr. Yumbya

Yumbya now joins a long list of top government officials who have resigned successively from the 23 month administration. 

His two paragraph letter on a plain paper did not explain why he was jumping ship.

Earlier Yumbya released a statement saying "My name is Daniel Yumbya. I was appointed minister for health in Machakos County in November 2022. I have served with diligence and with ability. However, today I want to say that as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes Chapter three, there is a time for everything. There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to come in and a time to leave. (This is the) time to leave the department as the minister for health in Machakos.   I hereby tender my resignation as a chief executive (sic) committee member for health  with effect him from the date of this letter. 

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity you accorded me to serve in your cabinet. I thank you' , he said in remarks directed at governor Wavinya Ndeti. 

However sources say Yumbya is fed up of continous admonition by Governor Wavinya and pressure to defend a department that he has no actual control over. 

See also https://theanchormedia.blogspot.com/2024/08/turmoil-in-ndetis-government-sees-fall.html

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