Governor Mwangaza shakes up Meru County Revenue Board

Mwangaza, who was sworn in last week announced on Tuesday that she had appointed Francis Mungai as the board’s General Manager, replacing Mr. John Ntoiti.

The new county boss similarly appointed Fridah Kagwiria as Director of the board, replacing Eric Kabuae. Harrison Gitobu meanwhile takes over as the Chief of Staff.

“I have also ordered the Board to release all items that had been confiscated by the former regime to the owners with immediate effect. However, they must prove ownership of the items before they are released,” Governor Mwangaza said in a statement.

She also directed that no revenue officer should take money without receipts and urged business people to ensure they ascertain the amount paid to the officers and the money that will be captured in the receipt 

“More so, no revenue should be collected after 4pm except at the roadblock barriers,” she added.

Mwangaza further ordered the introduction of suggestion boxes in all county offices to ensure Meru residents report all corruption cases they notice among the employees.

“I have extended the period for registration of suppliers for goods, services and works to 30th of September to allow more business owners to apply for government tenders,” noted the governor.

She termed her assumption of office as an end to “the era where few businessmen and women benefited from government tenders is over”, and promised to champion diversity “with special consideration to Women, youth and People Living with Disability.”

The first week in office has seen a number of first-term Governors shake up the County leadership, uprooting loyalties of their predecessors. 

On Tuesday, the new Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo also sacked County Secretary Ahmed Galgalo Guyoand replaced him with Yusuf Mohamed Galgalo, who is also Isiolo’s Chief Officer for land.

Governor Guyo through a letter said the County Secretary’s office was among those that have been earmarked for immediate changes in order to ensure effective service delivery per his electoral manifesto.

“In the circumstances and in the exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 44(2)(c) of the County Government Act No.17 of 2012, this is to notify you of the termination of your services of the County Secretary of Isiolo with effect from the date of this letter,” read the letter addressed to Galgalo.

Meanwhile in Bomet, Governor Hilary Barchok has reportedly told staff that he will send off anyone that campaigned against him in the just concluded General Election. He said he will not work with staff who were not loyal to him.