Bomet County Assembly yesterday approved two County Executive Committee (CEC) members’ nominees appointed by Governor Dr Hillary Barchok last month.
The two were at the same time sworn-in in the evening to fully constitute Dr Barchok’s cabinet two months after taking over office.
Mr Joseph Terer was sworn-in as the Roads, Transport and Public Works CEC while Dr Kipchumba Toweet takes over the Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives docket, which have been vacant for the last three months following a petition to retain the late Dr Joyce Laboso’s cabinet.
Last week a Labour Relations Court sitting in Nakuru vacated orders barring Dr Barchok from appointing new office bearers following an injunction sought and obtained by two former CECs – Mr Justus Maina, who served Administration and Public Service docket and Mr Bernard Ngeno of Youths, Sports, Culture and Social services.
The Governor had appointed all the CEC’s from the previous regime but MCAs on August 22, vetted and found the CEC Administration Mr, Justus Maina, Mr Benard Ngeno (Sports, Youths and Social Services), Engineer Benson Kipsang Sang (Water and Sanitation), Engineer Philip Kipngeno Sowek (Roads, Public Works and Transport), Mrs Daisy Chelangat Rono (Land and Urban Planning) and Dr Julius Tuwei (Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives) unfit to serve under the current regime.
The CECs Medical Services and Public Health Dr Joseph Sitonik, Mrs Juliana Yegon (Education and Vocational Training), Mr Andrew Kimutai Sigei (Finance and Economic Planning) survived the axe alongside Mrs Julia Chepkuto of the Trade, Energy, Industry and Tourism were retained. On August, 28, Dr Barchok reduced 10 departments to seven to enable him to meet the required quorum in the law and the fate of the six CECs is yet to be known,
Through Nairobi advocate Peter Wanyama, Mr Maina and Mr Ngeno had moved to court and obtained injunction after they were relieved of their duties by the Assembly, against the Governor barring him from nominating or appointing anyone to the positions.
Justice Bryam Ongaya of the Employment and Labour Relations Court sitting in Nairobi had two months ago issued interim orders barring the Governor and the County Assembly from removing the petitioners from office, interfering with their contract, the terms and benefits derived from holding office.
The approval of the two nominees and subsequent swearing-in of the two yesterday evening was a big relief to governor Barchok as his cabinet is now fully constituted to enable him to continue with his operations.
Meanwhile, the Bomet County Assembly shot down The Punguza Mizigo, Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2019 through a vote of 23 for rejection and 8 approval.
The proposer of the motion, Mr Samwel Keter, Rongena ward MCA lamented that the bill was very good and would be passed by the Assembly if there was room for amendments to remove the clause one-term president and removal of the office of the deputy governor which did not resonate well with most of the members.