Nyoro deputy swearing-in hits a snag over Covid-19
Oliver Musembi, Clement Kamau and Mathew Ndung’u
Swearing in of the new Kiambu Deputy Governor Joyce Ngugi hit a snag after the Judiciary failed to assign a judge to preside over the ceremony.
The occasion scheduled to take place on Tuesday was called off in the last minute after it emerged that no judge was at hand to conduct the swearing-in as the courts are on recess in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Governor James Nyoro said he contacted Chief Justice David Maraga and hopes the matter will be finalised soon.
However, the 11 newly appointed County Executive Committee members (CECs) were sworn in by Kiambu Chief Magistrate Patricia Gichohi in a low-key ceremony in accordance with the Covid-19 control guidelines.
Conduct ceremony
“I want to assure the public that the swearing in of the Deputy Governor will take place the soonest possible. We have experienced a hitch due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, but the CJ has assured me that a judge will soon be available to conduct the ceremony,” Nyoro said.
Those who took oath of office during the occasion also attended by County Speaker Stephen Ndicho and a number of MCAs, included Wilson Kang’ethe (Finance and Economic Planning), Margaret Ruinge (Public Service and Administration, James Maina (Lands, Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development), David Kuria (Water, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources) and Mary Kamau (Education, Gender, Culture and Social Services).
Others were Joseph Kamau (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries), Kigo Njenga, (Trade, Tourism Cooperatives and Enterprise Development), Joseph Murega (Health Services), Samuel Kimani (Roads, Transport and Public Works, Irene Waiyaki (County Attorney) and Martin Njogu (County Secretary).
Nyoro appealed to Members of the County Assembly to work with the Executive to deliver their mandate to residents, adding that no ward will be discriminated against in matters development.
“I am appealing to Members of the County Assembly to pull together for we do not have the luxury of time.
I also want to assure that no ward will be discriminated when it comes to development projects,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, the Kiambu county government has waived levies for traders for the next three months.
Nyoro said the move was meant to cushion the traders from the hostile effects of the tough measures announced by the government towards flattening the curve of spreading Coronavirus pandemic.
“For those who had paid their licence fees, we will rebate you for the months that you have not been working so that we can support our business people.
We are however urging because we know some bars have been operating illegally, as police arrest those flouting the law, we will also require such bars to pay for their full licences,” he said.
Nyoro said measures towards the fight against Covid-19 have been taken among them fumigation of all markets and enforcing the social distancing.
He said the county has also established 60 beds at Thika, Gatundu and Kiambu Level Five hospitals some of which are isolation beds while others will be used for quarantine purposes.
“In addition, the county has identified 20 additional facilities most of them being schools and institutions such as Kiambu Institute for isolation and quarantine if need arises’” he added.
