Laikipia governor-elect Joshua Irungu has assured county government employees that they would not be victimized under his administration.
Speaking in Nanyuki town on Tuesday during the handing-over ceremony by outgoing governor Ndiritu Muriithi, Irungu sought to allay fears that some government employees might lose their jobs once he takes over the devolved unit.
“I know at such a time when there’s a transition there are fears, especially of the unknown with people wondering how the new administration will handle things on wards, but I want to assure the staff that there will be no victimization and we expect this to be a seamless transfer of authority,” Irungu said.
He assured residents of the county that nothing would go wrong in his administration adding that he was ready to engage everyone including contractors with an aim of settling the pending bills and other debts owed to suppliers.
Irungu commended his predecessor for the five years he has steered the county saying that he would always be in consultation with Muriithi for clarity on some matters that require sharing of thoughts.
“I want to assure him (Ndiritu Muriithi) that I will still cooperate with him and always reach out to him on things that require clarity so that we can have a seamless handover for the continuity and sustainability of the projects started,” Irungu said.
The outgoing governor who was present said that the new administration would receive a comprehensive handover report and statements of assets and liabilities.
As you know in the Assumption of Office Act, there are certain processes that are laid out, and it’s meant to ensure good order so that the handing over process is nice and smooth, assets and liabilities are accounted for so that the new team has full information and knowledge of the state of affairs,” Muriithi said.
Irungu, the pioneer governor of Laikipia, promised to implement the projects started by his predecessor to whom he lost to, in 2017 but has now recaptured the seat.
Irungu, who vied on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket in the just concluded elections garnered 113, 783 votes against Muriithi vying on a Jubilee party ticket who got 48,563 votes.
John Wakaba, an independent candidate, came in third person with 2,657 votes. Others who were in the race are Gitonga Kabugi of the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC-Kenya), who had 1,713 votes, and Kamau Mburu, an independent candidate scored 946 votes.