By Sean Ngirici/The Mountain Journal
Four nominees of the Murang’a County Public Service Board were vetted, each outlining strategies that would facilitate the growth of the county.
The lawyers and university lecturers appeared before the Governance Committee chaired by Gicobe Mbatia for vetting, where they outlined their capability to support the growth of the county, focusing on the increased revenue.
They are lawyers Oscar Kimani, and Dr Louis Mwende Mwikali, and university lecturers Dr Brian Lushenga Makamu, and Professor Johnson Kang’ethe of JKUAT.
Kang’ethe is a former chairman at Ngere Tea Factory in Gatanga.
Gichobe said the committee was in receipt of a letter from former TSC Secretary Nancy Macharia communicating on the declining the offer to the job.
Other committee members were Thomas Muteti,Moses Muchiri, Bernard Ruiru,Loise Mbogo,Shareen Wambui and Antony Maucho Marubu.
“ Governor Irungu Kang’ata will nominate another person for the chairperson position after Dr Nancy Macharia declined the offer,” said Gichobe, also the Kariara MCA.
In the vetting panel Mwende and Makamu said they hailed from the counties of Kitui and Kakamega respectively, with interest to work in Murang’a county after the county government advertised for the positions.
Lushenga also chairs the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA).
Kang’ethe said one of the strategies would be to formulate a programme to fast track the transformation, with a call for a strategic partnership to support recruitment of youth in meaningful employment.
The lecturer at JKUAT added that having served in the tea sector, it would be prudent for Murang’a tea factories to establish a value addition centre, within the Industrial Park, a project that will provide employment to hundreds of the youth.
“ In the board there will be consultations to ensure the growth through fairness in recruitment exercise,” said Kang’ethe.
Kimani and Mwende told the committee that if approved to serve, they would offer their legal minds, initiate vibrant programmes among them alternative dispute mechanism, and carbon credits.
“ For Murang’a to grow we shall need to formulate a strategic plan that will focus on the workforce needed compared to the budget provided,” said Kimani vetted for the position of the board secretary.
Luchenga said the board will work towards formulating a dashboard to assist in development of a policy framework.
“Am an expert in telemedicine, who played a major role in assisting Murang’a administration initiate one for the interest to reach the hundreds in the rural set up,” said Lushenga. He further disclosed that in 2022, he vied Kakamega senatorial seat garnered 195,192 votes, while the winner’s Dr Bonny Khalwale got 249,004 votes .
