By Kituku Mutinda
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. (Pictured below)today carried out a shake-up of his administration, moving several County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) and Chief Officers across key departments as his first term enters its final stretch.
The changes affect critical portfolios including Agriculture and Cooperative Development, ICT, Education and Internships, Youth and Sports, Financial Services, Livestock and Fisheries, and Devolution.
Nevertheless the County Chief did not fill in substantively two vacant cabinet slots -the department of Water and Sanitation currently held by Japheth Mang’oka on acting capacity and the department of Education , ICT and internships held by Irene Makau on acting capacity .
He did not explain why the vacancies should persist in a county where competitive and competent brains exist.
The reshuffle, one of the most extensive reorganisations of the county executive in recent months, comes as the Mutula administration moves deeper into the second half of its first term and begins to face the political and administrative pressures associated with the approach of the next election cycle.
CECM for Education Japheth Mang’oka has been moved to the Department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development, while Trade CECM Irene Makau will take over in an acting capacity as CECM for ICT, Education and Internships.
At the Chief Officer level, John Nthuhua Nguni, formerly in charge of Financial Services, has been redeployed to Youth and Sports.
Nicholis Mutisya Mutua, who was serving as Chief Officer for Youth and Sports, has in turn been moved to ICT, Education and Internship.
The reshuffle also affects the Livestock and Fisheries and Devolution dockets.Japheth Mutuku Kiminza, formerly Chief Officer for Livestock and Fisheries, has been redeployed to Devolution, Public Participation, County Administration and Special Programmes.
His former position will be taken over by Daniel Mutuku Ndolo, who has been moved from Devolution, Public Participation, County Administration and Special Programmes to Livestock and Fisheries.
Stanlus Matheka, currently serving as Director of Socio-Economic Planning, was fired upwards totake up the position of Acting Chief Officer for Socio-Economic Planning.He will require approval of the Makueni County Assembly to fill the role substantively.
Dr Geoffrey Ngui Muthoka, the Chief Officer for Environment and Climate Change, will also assume the additional responsibility of Acting Chief Officer for Financial Services.
The changes amount to a significant reconfiguration of the county’s executive machinery, with senior officials being moved between departments rather than simply filling vacant positions.
For Governor Mutula, the timing is significant. With his first term moving towards its final phase, the reshuffle could be among the last major reorganisations of his executive before the 2027 political contest gathers full momentum.
Mutula is seeking a second and final term against perenial aspirant Prof Kaloki who is challenging him on a United Democratic Alliance party.
The reshuffle also places fresh responsibility on the affected officers to deliver on departments that directly touch the lives of Makueni residents, particularly agriculture, youth, education, financial management and livestock.
Whether the latest changes will translate into improved service delivery or mark a broader realignment of responsibilities within the Mutula administration will become clearer as the new officers settle into their respective dockets.
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