Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has appealed to the Members of Nandi County Assembly to be factual, genuine and fair while fulfilling their oversight mandate.
The governor noted that, while following up on projects’ progress, the MCAs need to be factual and genuine in their observations, noting that sometimes they blow issues out of proportion, besides not following up on factual causes of some situations they find with some projects.
Sang noted that Assembly Members sometimes opt to capitalize on certain failed situations, paint a bad picture and blame it on the executive wing of government, forgetting they are part of the government and have part to play to correct any situations in question.
He reminded them that they cannot be exempted from blame in circumstances that residents fail to get the necessary services.
The governor reiterated that teamwork involving all wings of government was necessary for development to be realized in the County.
“This County is for all of us, if you create a bad name, you may think you are creating a bad name for the county executive but you are part of it. We are inside this ship together, so if you blow a grenade, we shall all be blown together,” Sang told the MCAs.
Sang cited claims of “stolen money” singling out a situation where a project is captured in a budget, and for unavoidable reasons it is not procured within a financial year, leading to MCAs claiming the money is stolen, yet they are aware that failure to procure within the year doesn’t mean the money has been lost.
“All of us, the County Assembly and the County Executive, know for a fact that when a project is captured in a budget and it is not procured within the financial year, it lapses and if it lapses it doesn’t mean the money has been misappropriated,” he insisted.
The Governor who seemed to have been irked by some County Assembly Ad-Hoc committee recommendations in a report last year over proposed purchase of land for mass graves, disowned debate surrounding budgeting for the land, maintaining that there was no budget and no money spent on such a project.
“There was a major issue about buying land for mass graves and we sensationalized it, there was no budget, there was no money spent on such a project, there was no procurement, it was just a story that we concocted,” he revealed.
Some of the Ad-Hoc committee recommendations which were tabled but later rejected at County Assembly early November last year included dismissal of the entire Chief Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers, three directors and all the Public Service Board members for alleged glaring errors in implementation of some projects.
Governor Sang made the remarks during the swearing in of the three newly appointed CECMs for Health and Sanitation, Education and Roads and Infrastructure namely Dr. Angeline Chepchirchir, Renny Chepkoskei Kirwa and Engineer Robert Kipchirchir Limo respectively.
Sang’s changes in his government came as a response to the County Assembly committee Ad-Hoc recommendations.
The function which took place at Kipchoge Complex Stadium also witnessed the swearing in of Nancy Cheruto as the Public Service Board Secretary together with Joseph Kiptoo and Joan Jepkoech as board members.
Sang appealed to the newly appointed CECMS to work on projects whose finances have been approved by ensuring locals get the needed services soonest.
“This time round, we must work differently from the way we have been working,” he said.
The Governor on the other hand thanked the County Assembly of Nandi for working overtime to ensure bills geared towards ensuring development in Nandi County are passed.
The function was also attended by the Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Mitei, County Secretary Dr. Francis Sang, County Commissioner represented by Nandi Central DCC Alfet Jilo, County Assembly Members, CECMs, Chief Officers and Directors.
By Geoffrey Satia