By Daniel Kituku
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has dismissed County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Elizabeth Ndunge Muli.
A March 9, 2026 letter, addressed to the Speaker of the Makueni County Assembly Douglas Mbilu, the governor formally communicated the dismissal, stating that Muli’s removal from the county cabinet took effect on March 6, 2026.
The governor invoked Section 31 of the County Governments Act, which grants governors the authority to appoint and dismiss members of the county executive committee.
“To ensure continuity in the operations and management of the department, Damaris Mumo Kavoi, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Socio-Economic Planning, has been appointed to act in the said position pending further administrative action,” the letter states.
Kavoi will therefore temporarily oversee the Agriculture docket while the county government undertakes further administrative steps regarding leadership of the department.
The Agriculture ministry is one of the most significant departments in Makueni’s economy, overseeing farming programmes that support thousands of households across the county, including the mango value chain that has become central to local agricultural production.
The change in leadership comes amid sustained public discussion over challenges facing the county’s mango value chain, particularly concerns raised by farmers about market access, post-harvest losses and the performance of the Kalamba Fruit Processing Plant.
The County Assembly recently debated the matter, with some members calling for deeper scrutiny of how the sector is being managed and how resources allocated to the programme are being utilized.
Shortly after the news of her dismissal emerged, Muli confirmed the development through a post on her Facebook page. “I have been dismissed from my position,” she wrote.
The county government has not publicly outlined the specific reasons behind the dismissal.
The minister, a professional teacher, was recently moved from the education docket. Observers say the reshuffle resulted in obvious signs of fatigue on her part, indicating her displeasure in the governor’s action.
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