Embu new governor assures she is equal to the task

New Embu governor Dorothy Nditi on Saturday took over office and promised to help mend differences between the county assembly and the executive.

She said she was not celebrating the ouster of Mr Martin Wambora since they were challenging the impeachment by the county assembly together.

“As per the law the deputy takes over if the governor is impeached. Rather than celebrate a part of me is saddened by the removal of Governor Wambora because we were fighting as a team. Mr Wambora said he would move to court and I hope he gets reprieve but at the moment I take charge to ensure there is no vacuum in county leadership. It is a very trying moment," she said.

Addressing the press in the county boardroom on Saturday, Ms Nditi said her first task would call a meeting of all county leaders to call a truce and end animosity.

“There are no permanent enemies in politics. We will work our way out. Embu county is bigger than anybody else. Impeachment is political. There was a rift between assembly and the executive, I will reach out to the legislature. I am calling on all leaders to call for a ceasefire,” said Ms Nditi.

The 41-year old governor, who was flanked by eight county executive members, said she was consulting her lawyer, Kibe Mungai, and other elected leaders for advice on when to appoint a deputy governor and be sworn in.

Without elaborating, Ms Nditi suggested that there was a group of people who were pressuring her to relinquish the post.

“I am under pressure to do certain things. The reason why I fought is because I wanted to clear the tag of corruption. Corruption is not what anyone wants in this country and to me that was very important. Let us leave this at that,” she said.

There has been grumbling among the Embu community that all the county seats are held by the Mbeere sub-tribe.

She however said she was equal to the task and had resolved to forge ahead with the new assignment and urged residents to stay calm.

“My taking over has consequences. We can’t allow a vacuum in the leadership of Embu. We are in control and will move forward.

Embu County Education Executive Member Dr Jamleck Muturi said the executive members had thrown their support behind Ms Nditi and hey would work with all county stakeholders to develop the county.

Ms Nditi said her government will not condone corruption and promised to launch investigations against county secretary Margaret Lorna Kariuki who was accused of overlooking procurement rules.

Ms Nditi, a single mother of one is a former teacher at Maasai girls high school and Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology.

She hails from Mbeere South.

Before her election as Deputy Governor on March 2013, Ms Nditi had been working as a community social worker in Gachoka constituency since 2010.

She also served as an acting Tana water services chairman.

Ms Nditi studied BA (Home Economics) at Kenyatta University and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in nutrition and dietetics.

She was married but was widowed at 27.