National government officials, political leaders, stakeholders and Igambang’ombe residents convened at Kathwana for a briefing by the County Commissioner Beverly Opwora, on the program and conduct of public participation towards the creation of Igambang’ombe Sub-County.
The meeting followed an order issued by the courts, compelling the government to take necessary measures and steps provided by the constitution to create such an administrative unit after it received submissions that the process used to create the Sub-County did not follow due process.
Speaking during the function, CC Opwora highlighted the needs of having a Sub-County as taking government services closer to the people, offering job opportunities to residents and civil servants and stimulating the economy through development.
Opwora warned residents and politicians against hate speech and incitement, giving order to DCIO and the County Police Commander to monitor all forms of speeches including social media.
“There are a few of us who are using this opportunity to spread hate speech and incitement that can affect us negatively as a county. The issue on the Sub-County should not be political or based on tribal lines”, she said.
Senator Kithure Kindiki in his speech called for qualitative and quantitative public participation on sub-location level, with a clearly defined notice and agenda insisting on the need to follow court orders to avoid the risk of losing the Sub-County.
According to Kindiki, the County Commissioner is the duty bearer of the public participation which is supposed to be conducted by the government agency taking action of creating the Sub-County, in this case the National Government represented by the CC in consultation with the County Government.
“This is purely a legal issue. It is not a political issue and we must differ from politics. Let us recover our Sub-County first before we start blaming and taking action against those behind the petition”, he said.
Kindiki further added he was given the mandate to represent the people of Igambang’ombe and work in collaboration with national government lawyers at the Court of Appeal insisting according to the judge, those scheduled for public participation were those affected by the court decision.
Governor Muthomi Njuki cautioned leaders against inciting the public and hate speech to satisfy their personal interests asking residents to take part in public participation without engaging in politics saying the County Government was an interested party in public participation and it would conduct the process at Kathwana on 25th January 2022.
Chuka Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene noted that through his efforts and other leaders, the Sub-County was already operational, with social services, government programs such as social services and recruitments already taking place.
Former Governor Samwel Mbae Ragwa advised on speaking as one people as a county and promoting equality by shunning politics of hate in order to safeguard the interests of the Sub-County.
Chuka University VC Prof. Erastus Njoka in his remarks indicated that no one was against the creation of a Sub-County, maintaining the important thing was following due process to avoid issues in the future.
The VC asked for allocation of more time and a clearly defined process for public participation.
Other leaders present included CAS State Law Office and Department of Justice, Micheni Ntiba, Woman Representative Beatrice Nkatha, Tharaka MP Gitonga Murugara and Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia.
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