Muranga chiefs hold demo over job security

Chiefs from Murang’a County for the second day running expressed worry that they might lose their jobs after the coming general elections.

On Thursday, they held a peaceful demonstration at General Ihura stadium within Murang’a town holding placards reading “Murang’a chiefs want to know their fate.”

They called upon presidential aspirants to engage them and guarantee their job security.

Addressing the press, the administrators said they are worried the new constitution had not secured their positions and will be rendered redundant after the March 2013 poll.

On Wednesday, they had held a similar demonstration outside the Murang’a East District Commissioner’s office.

“The incoming government will operate within the new constitutional framework which does not clearly state the fate and functions of officers serving in the provincial administration that is District Commissioners, District Officers, chiefs and assistant chiefs,” Kanyenya-ini Chief Julius Gikonyo Waithaka who read a statement on their behalf.

He said only article 6 (2) of the Sixth Schedule paragraph 17 of the constitution that has mentioned them but the clause had been interpreted by politicians to mean they would become irrelevant.

They said the County Government Act 2012 had rendered them useless in the coming devolved government.

Senior Chief Peter Muhia called for the amendment of the County Government Act which he said had not accommodated them and was likely to throw them out after the general elections.

“We are now kindly requesting that our fate and the future of our jobs in the Provincial Administration be made clear in simple and categorical terms,” said Mr Waithaka.

He said with the recent decision by the courts which declared the County Commissioners to be in office illegally, their concern was that even they could also find themselves in similar territory.

The chiefs took exception to politicians referring to them to as ‘colonial outfits’ yet they were Kenyans who had families, emotions and also held votes.

“We want to tell Kenyans and politicians who will be contesting to form the next government that we are watching .it is either they are with us or against us, no fence sitting,” said Mr Waithaka, adding that they will vote for only those who had their interests at heart.

They expressed concerns that many politicians had been speaking ill of them yet they were crucial in maintaining peace in the grassroot enabling the politicians to campaign effectively

“We want them to declare their stand concerning us so that we know how to deal with the issue,” said Mukuyu assistant Chief Adams Kariuki.

“We have been working with our communities to ensure peace and order and we now ask our politicians to tell us where they stand as concerns us,” added Kimathi location Chief Mary Maina.

She said politicians who did not appreciate security were the ones agitating for the scraping of their positions.