By Martin Masai

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has made significant changes to her administration but failed to name someone to act in the place of long suspended Roads and Transport Minister RitaNdunge.

Ndunge was suspended in November over a controversial recorded bribery conversation with a stakeholder in her ministry. 

No one has been tasked to act in her place since, and Wavinya seems to have forgotten the vacancy. It could also be that ministers may not be crucial in the management of her ministries to an extent that a ministry can operate without a minister.

The reshuffle witnessed the dropping of two chief officers and reshuffling several others in an effort claimed to enhance government efficiency.

The changes were communicated through a circular by County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki.
“In order to enhance efficiency in the operations of the government, the Governor has made the following changes and appointments,” Dr. Ndambuki said in the circular, adding that the changes take effect immediately.

He directed County Executive Committee Members to oversee a smooth handover process and wished the affected officers well in their new roles.

Among the key changes, Mr. Benson Metho moves from the Department of Trade to become the Chief Officer in the Department of Environment.

Captain Andrew Mwema, previously in charge of the Department of Environment, now heads the Department of Cooperatives.

Mr. Abdullahi Guliye, who has been stationed at the Office of the County Secretary for unspecified special assignments, has been appointed as the Chief Officer for Energy.

This appointment marks his first active role after what many considered a prolonged period of inactivity in his previous posting.

On the other hand, Mr. Simon Kirima, who served as Chief Officer for Energy, has been reassigned to the Office of the County Secretary for special assignments. The move has drawn attention, with some observers interpreting it as a demotion to a less active role, often referred to informally as being sent to “Siberia.”

Mr. Mike Jace, formerly the Chief Officer for Cooperatives, will now head the Department of Roads and Transport, replacing Eng. Nthenge, who has been dropped from the administration.

In a parallel development, Mr. Vincent Musili, another officer who had been in “cold storage” at the Office of the County Secretary, has been appointed Chief Officer for Industrialization and Innovation. This move ends his stint in a role where he, like Guliye, had no specific assignments.

Their surjourn at the County Secretary’s office saw them without office space and they hardly reported to the County Headquarters building.

The reshuffle also includes new appointments. Mr. Moses Wambua, previously the Deputy Director for Fisheries, has been named the Acting Chief Officer for Livestock, while another official of the same name, who serves as Deputy Director for Trade, will now take on the role of Acting Chief Officer for Trade.

These changes reflect Governor Ndeti’s ongoing efforts to streamline county operations and inject new energy into key departments. It is the umpteenth time that she has made changes. The reshuffle comes at a time when the county government faces pressure to deliver on its development promises amid growing scrutiny and scepticism of its administrative capability to deliver tangible development.

The reshuffle and appointments are projected to set the stage for a more dynamic and effective service, though many residents see the move as shifting of musical chairs for loyolists to entrech well into the gravy train.

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