PM Odinga asks DCs, chiefs to be positive over jobs

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday asked civil servants not to sabotage the implementation of the new constitution for fear of losing their jobs.

Mr Odinga instead asked them to prepare to exploit new opportunities to be created in the new dispensation.

Mr Odinga’s call comes in the wake of fears that Provincial Commissioners, District Commissioners, District Officers, Chiefs and their assistants could lose their jobs in a massive overhaul of the government and counties’ administrative structures in line with the new constitution.

“Nobody is going to lose jobs. You may not be a DC but you can be something else. In the new constitution, there is no Prime Minister but I cannot resist the new constitution because I’m going to lose my job,” Mr Odinga stated.

Speaking while launching the Transforming Kenya Programme, the PM asked public servants to exploit the great opportunities brought by the new constitution instead of living in the fear of losing their jobs.

“A human being is a conservative animal. There are those who fear losing their jobs instead of looking at the opportunities created,” he stated.

The new structure and organization of the Counties leaves no room for PCs, DCs, DOs or chiefs, signalling the end of a powerful machinery that has been the symbol of government in the lives of Kenyans since colonial days.

According to Moi University lecturer Mutakha Kangu who chaired the task force that drafted six bills to give effect to the 47 Counties, it is upto the Office of the President which is in charge of the Provincial Administration to figure out how to fit it into the new dispensation.

Internal Security and Provincial Administration assistant minister Orwa Ojode however maintains that DCs, Dos and Chiefs will be absorbed into the devolved system and that only PCs will lose their jobs.

Speaking at Wednesday's functions, Mr Odinga said the devolution process was going to transform the country’s entire structure and asked civil servants to match this with deliberate action and great focus on national priorities.

“Our new Constitution gives us revitalised impetus for change, an opportunity to set our nation on the right track,” he stated. “This golden moment will not come again soon, and we must seize it, and move confidently in the direction of our dreams,” the PM went on.

He directed all government institutions to review their policies, laws, regulations and administrative structures to conform with the demands of the Constitution.

“Our clarion call to the public service is to “get it right from the beginning”. Ministries must develop and implement change-management plans to ensure a smooth transition,” he said.

Mr Odinga said that the government plans to integrate all public services so they could be accessed at a central point by at wananchi.