Govt officials who skipped Madaraka Day fete to be punished

Kericho County Commissioner Mukhtar Abdi has threatened to take action against heads of departments of the National Government who skipped Madaraka Day fete on Wednesday.

Speaking during the event, a visibly angry Mr Abdi said it was compulsory for all senior state officers and heads of departments to attend the celebrations and wondered loudly why they had skipped the function.

“We all know it’s a national holiday and we would all love to take a day off and rest. I am directing heads of departments of the national government that they must attend such functions or risk being punished. We will not take their absence kindly,” he warned.

This came as members of the County Assembly who attended the meeting also queried why some senior County Government of Kericho officials including County Executive Committee members (CECs), Chief Officers and heads of departments had given the event a wide berth.

Kapkugerwet Ward Representative Samwel Ng’etich and Mary Bett called on Governor Paul Chepkwony to suspend all the top officials of the county government who did not attend the function.

“Who will we ask questions on the progress of development in the county if they fail to turn up for these meetings? Such officials should be suspended from office,” said Mr Ng’etich.

Of the nine CECs, only three — Charles Birech (Roads) Edna Ruto (Public Service Management), Eng Paul Chepkwony (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries) — were present.

Chief Officers present were Kipchumba (Information Communication and E-Government) Bernard Korir (Education), Alexander Rotich (Public Service Management) and Anne Koech (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries) while 6 others skipped the event.

Touching on matters development, Mr Abdi said three schools in Kericho had received tablets for class one pupils and that other schools would receive their gadgets between August and December this year.

The three schools are Kericho Township Primary School in Ainamoi Constituency, which received 66 tablets, Chepsir Primary in Kipkelion East Constituency (62) and Kipsolu Primary School in Belgut Constituency which received 55 tablets.

He also announced that 3479 persons in the county are benefiting from the cash transfer for the elderly across the County worth Sh83.4 million while 411 children were receiving the presidential bursary, with Sh3.87M having been disbursed to them this year.