Two chiefs have been dismissed and another suspended from service in Baringo County in the past one year for sabotaging government programmes.
The County Commissioner (CC), Henry Wafula said one chief from Tiaty was sacked for protecting cattle rustlers while Salabani chief in Marigat Sub County was suspended pending dismissal for teaming up with area MCA to incite residents of Kampi Samaki to boycott the just concluded national population and housing census.
Speaking on Wednesday at Kabarnet Rehabilitation Centre when he launched 30 days Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) for registration of persons, the commissioner directed Tenges Assistant County Commissioner to retrieve the official uniform of a chief from his area who was dismissed due to engaging in excessive drinking thus embarrassing and tainting the image of the government.
“They cannot be purporting to work for The Presidency and again you go against the president’s directive or fail to implement its programmes. We shall not allow such weird behaviour,” Wafula reiterated.
Accompanied by the County Registrar of Persons, Joseph Kipng’etich, the CC warned that the government would not hesitate to sack officers who frustrated its activities and policies or those who were grossly inept.
He directed the chiefs and assistants drawn from Kabarnet, Salawa and Tenges divisions to mobilise residents who have lost their identity cards and youth who have attained the age of 18 years to register.
The quick issuance of the vital documents would allow citizens who failed to register for Huduma Namba in the first phase to participate in the national exercise when the government opens another registration window soon.
The marathon registration drive which ends on October 4 will be carried out in the seven sub-counties and nobody should be made to pay even a cent except those who are replacing mutilated documents who will be required to pay Sh.100, said Wafula.
He regretted that most elderly persons in Tiaty region do not have ID cards, a situation he noted had forced some of them to miss cash transfer funds.
Wafula, who was flanked by Baringo Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Reuben Ratemo commended the chiefs for doing a good job during the concluded national census exercise saying that the county registered 99.9 percent success.
On promotions, the CC asked DCCs to ensure they gave priority to female assistant chiefs with sterling performance whenever a vacancy arose in the position of a chief instead of recruiting those from outside the department, saying the method would motivate junior officers to work hard knowing they would be rewarded.
In his address, Kipng’etich said that they targeted to register 26, 421 eligible people in the county during the 30 days’ period.
He disclosed that there were 1, 200 processed identity cards lying uncollected in various registration offices and asked the chiefs to collect for their people.
By Joshua Kibet
