Nyandarua MCAs Reject Governor’s Cabinet Nominees for a second time

Conflict is brewing in Nyandarua County as a result of the County Assembly’s repeated failure to vet two nominees, forcing Governor Kiarie Badilisha to post new job adverts.

The two positions that were advertised last week are for the County Public Service Board and the County Secretary.

The Assembly rejected Frank Kanja’s nomination for the position of County Secretary in September 2020.

The Ward Reps claimed that neither his name nor that of Purity Kamuruci, who had been proposed for the County Public Service Board, had been chosen by a panel as required by law.

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When the names were resubmitted to the Assembly two weeks ago, the MCAs led by Speaker Stephen Waiganjo reacted angrily, claiming that the governor had once again disobeyed the Assembly’s instruction. The Governor had established a panel that carried out the procedure as instructed by the Assembly.

The County Attorney’s and County Secretary’s offices were encouraged by the Speaker to make sure that the names of candidates for County Secretary and a member of the County Public Service Board were once again submitted in accordance with the law.

The Speaker claimed that although the names of Kanja and Kamuruci had been resubmitted to the County Assembly, there was still a lack of pertinent information, such as the method used to determine them, as required by Sections 6, 7, and 8 of the Public Appointments Act (County Assemblies Approval act 2017).

Some MCAs were incensed when they learned that the governor’s administration had broken the law, claiming it was a recurring error.

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The openings were advertised in a few print publications last Friday, inviting applications from interested parties.

The two nominees had previously worked for Nyandarua’s first governor, Mwangi Waithaka, as the County Secretary and Clerk to the County Assembly, respectively.

The Governor defended rehiring the pair in September of last year when he announced nominees for the executive roles, stating that as County residents, they had the same right to apply for the jobs as everyone else.