Kericho Governor Erick Mutai has sacked six members of his County Executive Committee (CEC) in one of the biggest shake-ups of his two-year tenure.
In what appears to be an attempt to win public confidence after narrowly surviving an impeachment process, Dr Mutai has retained only three of his County Executive Committee members.
In a surprise move, Dr Mutai announced the termination of the contracts of the six loyalists in a bid to turn around the fortunes of his administration and its acceptance by residents.
“Pursuant to paragraph 23 of the Terms and Service of the County Executive together with section 40 (1) of the County Government Act No 17 of 2012, I have given notice of termination of contract to the following county Executive Committee members…” Dr Mutai stated.
They are Dr John Kipruto Malel (ICT, e-Government, Youth and Sports), Ms Rosemary Rop (Water, Environment, Energy, Forestry and Natural Resources), Ms Edna Tanui (Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives), Mr Leonard Ngetich (Trade, Industrialisation, Tourism and Wildlife), Mr Bernard Bii (Public Works, Roads and Transport) and Mr Brian Langat (Lands, Housing and Physical Planning).
Mr Malel stands out as the executive with the shortest tenure -- just six months -- following his appointment to Cabinet, a position he has now lost following the changes affected by Dr Mutai.
The Cabinet changes come barely a week after Dr Mutai reconciled with members of the County Assembly at a retreat held at Sawela Lodge in Naivasha, Nakuru County, where the sacked CECs were joined by heads of their respective departments.
At the three-day retreat, the MCAs categorically stated that most of the executives had failed in their assignments and should be replaced as a matter of priority for the smooth running and implementation of development programmes in the county.
Those who survived the axe are Ms Beatrice Kaptich, who was moved from Public Service Management to Information Communication Technology (ICT), E-Government, Youth and Sports, and Ms Brenda Bii, who was moved from Health Services to Roads and Public Works.
Mr Jackson, a former MP for Kipkelion, has been retained as the executive in charge of Finance and Economic Planning.
Former Kipkelion MP Langat Magerer and Emily Kirui "Cheptikit", the former Kericho representative of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and National Executive Council (NEC) member, are among those nominated to the Cabinet.
Mr Magerer will take over the Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives portfolio while Ms Kirui has been tapped for the Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism portfolio in the changes announced on Monday.
Former Chief Officer David Ngililgo Ekuwam has been nominated to head the Health Services Department, while Mr Philemon Kurgat has been nominated to head the Department of Water, Environment, Energy, Forestry and Natural Resources.
The other nominees are Mr Jonathan Kipkemoi Korir for Public Service Management and Mr Joseph Kipsang Korir for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning.
The County Assembly, which is in recess, is expected to vet the nominees in January 2025 to pave the way for their appointment to the now vacant Cabinet positions as required by law and the 2010 Constitution.
Members of the County Assembly have repeatedly called for the removal of some of the executives from office for alleged incompetence and flouting of the law while serving in their dockets.
A number of them have also been accused of failing to honour summons to appear before the Assembly to answer questions raised by legislators and members of the public on the running of their various dockets.
Dr Mutai is serving his first term after taking over from Professor Paul Chepkwony, whose second year in office ended after the August 9, 2022 general election.
