Lamu,KENYA:Majority of the six Lamu county government appointees for the positions of County Executive Committees-CECs did not meet the required threshold for their various offices.
This came out when the six were being vetted at the Lamu county assembly on Tuesday in an exercise led by speaker Abdu Kassim.
The six are Florence Ndung’u-Agriculture and Water Development,Abdu Godana-Fisheries and Cooperative Society Development,Raphael Munyua-Health and Environment,Dismas Polle-Trade,Tourism and Industralization,Hemed Ahmed-Finance and Planning and Fahima Arafat-Lands and Infrastructure Development.
They were directly appointed by Lamu governor Fahim Twaha.
It emerged strongly that many of the appointees had no background exposure both professional and academic in the various fields that they had been appointed to.
The appointees had a hard time trying to convince and explain to the concerned county assembly committee how they would be able to function and effectively deliver in dockets they had to clue about.
Majority did not also have the required academic qualifications to be able to hold the office of the CEC as stated in the constitution while others had questionable papers.
It also emerged that the appointees failed to meet the above five years experience for the post of CEC as required by law with many stating they had worked for less than two years in their previous posts.
Other former public service employees were taken to task over various scandals that marred them in their past employment.
Ahmed Hemed who is a former clerk in the defunct Municipal council was asked how he would be trusted with Finance department and reminded on the many financial and misappropriation scandals that arose around him back then.
It was alleged that during his days as clerk,there were numerous cases of ghost workers who resulted in loss of millions belonging to the municipal council.
“All I know is that there was no ghost worker back then whom I paid.I don’t know where that came from,”said Hemed.
It also emerged that the Hemed’s wife is a nephew of governor Fahim Twaha.
Rafael Munyua who has been appointed for the Health docket is a former running mate of governor Fahim Twaha in the 2013 elections in which they lost.
Munyua has no medical background or experience and his appointment is believed to be political even as Twaha seems to be rewarding loyalists.
Speaking shortly after,deputy speaker Abdalla Aboud said a report with recommendations will be prepared and presented in the house in a week’s time on the final determinations.
