The National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) in Garissa have been directed to closely monitor all government projects in their areas of jurisdictions and report on their progress on a regular basis.
While addressing the officers who include the county commissioner, Deputy County commissioners, Assistant County commissioners, chiefs and their assistants, the North Eastern regional commissioner John Otieno directed them to ensure that no government project stalls especially where money has been availed for completion.
This comes at a time when the majority of Kenyans are calling for accountability of taxpayers’ money spent on various projects across the country.
The chiefs were also been tasked with sensitizing the public on various government policies especially on the ongoing registration of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) which is set to take effect on October 1st.
“Chiefs, assistant chiefs and the National Administrative officers in general are the face of the government in their jurisdictions and are responsible for coordinating all national government functions and projects. The NGAO has been directed to closely monitor the implementation and progress of government projects and policies on various programmes,” Otieno said.
“In this region we have various projects like the Affordable Housing Programme, Universal Healthcare being rolled out and even the shift to SHIF whose registration is ongoing. Chiefs have a role to sensitize the members of the public so that they can enroll as beneficiaries,” he added.
The NGAO officials were also directed to communicate clearly to the members of the public the importance of the national government policies like the primary health care and the emergency chronic and critical illness funds and their benefits to the citizens.
The chiefs will also be required to convene community peace meetings and bring the communities together especially during the coming dry season where there may be conflicts over pasture and water.
On security, Otieno asked the chiefs to work with all the security agencies and endeavor to gather and act on intelligence so that members of the public can conduct their business peacefully.
The regional commissioner further noted that insecurity reported in the last couple of weeks has dwindled following enhanced security measures put in place by the regional and county security committees.
By Erick Kyalo