Ask Your Question: Charity Ngilu

In this interactive series, we invite our readers to send in questions to select public figures. Answers will be published in the next print and online editions. This week, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu responds to your questions:

1 I am alive to the fact that education is not fully devolved but it is on record that standards of education are down in our county. What will your leadership do in conjunction with TSC to reduce teacher-pupil ratio which is partly blamed for the falling education standards in Kitui County? 
John Kivaa Mutua, Kitui

Education is the third agenda in my manifesto. The county will employ qualified Early Childhood Development Education teachers who are capable of teaching primary school pupils as we engage with TSC to employ more teachers.  

2 Your party Narc is not an affiliate of Nasa yet you are their point person in Kitui County. The party has already changed to National Resistance Movement. Do you agree with the resistance and or People’s Assembly? 
Solomon Gatobu, Maua

Narc works with Nasa and it embodies a reformist agenda that will change the way things are done in Kenya. If the resist campaign will do it, so be it. 

3 In 2013, you abandoned Cord and campaigned for and even got a job from a government that was led by individuals who at the time were facing the most serious charges at the International Criminal Court. What informed your decision then and do you have any regrets whatsoever associating with Jubilee? 
Maurice Obare, Siaya        

Jubilee then subscribed to my five issues of Food and Water, Healthcare, Education and Youth Development, Women Empowerment and Wealth Creation and I genuinely believed that they could deliver. Things panned out differently and I have since moved on considerably.  

4 With the recently concluded elections, a large section of Kenyans are bitter at the manner the presidential election was conducted. How will you and other governors overcome this political and ethnic hate to bring development in the counties? 
Mwalimu Kombo, Mt Elgon

Much as Kenya remains polarised, I believe there ought to be a collective responsibility for all leaders to keep Kenya united. I hope these differences do not impede development in the counties. I will tackle the issues as they emerge. 

5 Madam Governor, having been right at the apex of the Jubilee government before you left to re-join the opposition, what would you say has been the Jubilee administration’s biggest failure(s) since they came to office in 2013? 
Clarice Marwa, Kuria

Their biggest let-down is sidestepping the foundation we laid in the Kibaki administration. 

6 In the interest of the people of Kitui, and not withstanding your affiliation to the opposition, don’t you think it would be to their advantage to work hand in hand with the National Government for projects to accelerate growth in your county? What would you advise other county heads from counties leaning towards the opposition and how does such a governor balance between development interests and political interest? 
David Maranga, Langata

The National and County Governments work within a framework of interdependence, rather than adversarial. Kenyans have right to services irrespective of their political leaning. I have a manifesto upon which I was elected and it is my responsibility to pull on all stops to deliver it. I guess this is the case with other governors. 

7 While I commend you for several positive changes you have made in our county in the few days since you took power, I would like to know your plans for a mango processing company. Kitui County is known as one of the vibrant producer of mangoes yet the products of the said processing company never go beyond Kitui Town. What plans are there also to ensure farmers benefit from their mango produce?
Steve Kioko, Kitui

I am changing the existing mango framework and work has already began. My administration will invest in factories to process mangoes and add value to them for better earnings in both local and external markets so that money gets to the pockets of the farmer. The issue of middlemen will be sorted. 

8 By the time you were leaving the Jubilee government you sounded very bitter after corruption and abuse of office allegations had been levelled against you. I remember you were at one point asking why the President was treating some cabinet Secretaries who had also been linked to corrupt deals with kid gloves while targeting some like yourself. Is it your position that you were unfairly targeted by the Jubilee administration to get rid of you in the guise of fighting corruption? 
Brown Malewa, Bungoma.

This was clearly evident then as it is now. 

9 Madam Governor, what is your short and long term solutions to water scarcity in Kitui?
 Mwania Francis, Kitui West

Water and food are on top of my agenda. My government mobilised water trucks within a day after taking office to deal with short term needs. We also commenced rehabilitation of 107 moribund boreholes to over 100,000 residents and 80,000 livestock. Long term plans include implementation of major Integrated Water Supply Schemes like Nzamakuu-Mbondoni-Mwingi project at a cost of Sh500 million and extension of major pipelines from high yielding boreholes such as Kaondu in Mumoni, Kangweni in Kitui East, Muamba in Kitui South Maliku in Kisasi and Kamulewa in Mui. This is just part of my plan. It will be done. 

10 What is your take on charcoal burning and sand harvesting in our county which has adverse effects on our flora and fauna? 
Mwania Francis, Kitui West

While charcoal burning contributes to depletion of forest cover in Kitui, it is, sadly, used as an anti-poverty strategy by our young people who have been subjected to leaning on to anything, including indiscriminate sand harvesting for a livelihood. My government has appointed a Task Force to look into the matter. This will be followed by a legislative action that will ensure that charcoal and sand of Kitui will be sustainably exploited to benefit both the people and government of Kitui. 

11 During your reign at the Lands Ministry, frequent squabbles were witnessed between the ministry and the National Lands Commission, leading to litigation at some point. After your exit, less has been heard of these conflicts. Madam, were these conflicts institutional or ideological? Do you have any regrets having served in that portfolio?
Komen Moris, Eldoret

The lands ministry is a tower of corruption. When you attack such a stronghold, resistance must come from many directions, including the top. Nevertheless, I introduced irreversible reforms including use of IT in the management of land matters and I look back with pride that I left a positive thumb-print. 

12 Many Kenyans of goodwill were very impressed by your personal intervention when it was discovered that the hazardous asbestos material had been illegally dumped in a water-catchment area within your county. How far have you gone in redressing this matter? 
Komen Moris, Eldoret

The waste has been recovered and secured in a container that is awaiting final relocation once the county assembly enacts a law to handle the matter. The threat has been neutralised and the people of Kitui have been protected. 

13 The Kitui-Kavisuni road has become impassable. Considering that it is under KENHA which has so far not shown any plans of tarmacking or gravelling it, are there plans on how your office can partner with this government entity to sort this mess? 
Benson Kakunu, Kitui Central

I understand that the road is undergoing a tendering process. All we can do now is to patch-up the road to make it safely motorable. This will be done as soon as the current rains subside. 

14 Kitui County has a large coal and limestone deposits located in Mui Basin. What are your plans to ensure that the mineral deposits are properly utilised for benefit of Kitui County and not like Kitui ginnery  which has been dormant? 
Paul Alex Mutisya, Mombasa

Certainly, Kitui people have to benefit from coal and limestone mining. But for now, we are in the process of re-establishing liaison committees in Block A,B, C and D whose terms have expired. The same is the case at Ngaie where the investor’s license has also expired. Since this is a national government function, we have written to seek a go-ahead to have residents elect these committees. 

15 In the August 8 General Election, three women, that is yourself and two others in in Bomet and Kirinyaga were elected first female governors. A number of others were appointed deputy governors for example in Narok, Kericho and Nandi Counties. What special and unique leadership qualities should Kenyans expect that will set you apart from your male counterparts? 
Dan Murugu, Nakuru

I will speak for myself. I bring to the office of governor of Kitui unparalleled leadership in the management of public affairs. No one understands the afflictions of a people better than a woman. When you combine this with political power and resources - human, labour and capital - then you will see the difference. 

16 Congratulations for emerging victorious in the August 8 election. During the campaign period Jubilee government initiate the Kibwezi-Mutomo-Kitui road project which has failed to kick off. What are you going to do towards that project? 
Martin M. Ngie, Mbooni

This is a national government project which is on-going. I look forward to seeing it completed. 

NEXT WEEK

Director General, Kenya National Highways Authority, Peter Mundinia will answer your questions next week.

Send your questions to: [email protected] by Wednesday midday. Please provide your full name and where you are writing from.