SPEECH BY HON. KIRAITU MURUNGI DURING THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR MERU COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS (CECMs) ON 11^TH OCTOBER, 2017

Hon Senator

Cabinet Secretary

Members of Parliament present,

Honourable Speaker,

Honourable Members of the County Assembly of Meru,

The County Commissioner and Heads of Department of National Government

Members of the County Executive Committee of Meru County,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

First, allow me to thank you most sincerely for joining us as we witness the swearing in of these noble men and women who have been called to serve the County Government of Meru as County Executive Committee Members (CECMs).

To those taking your oath of office, allow me to take this early opportunity to heartily congratulate each and everyone of you. Your success has been a result of years of hard-work, dedication and service in your various fields of expertise and experience. As you all know, we have a big dream -TO MAKE MERU GREAT! We trust you to do everything possible to make this dream a reality.

I have no doubts you will produce results and excel in your respective departments. The people of Meru County, whom you shall from this moment be answerable to, will be monitoring your performance. They will be judging you by the quality of services that you will provide. I will work with you to closely monitor and oversee the activities of your ministry in order to ensure that ‘Wananchi’ receive the necessary services. I urge you to ensure that they are not frustrated by corrupt and inefficient officials, and through unnecessary red tape and bureaucratic barriers.

Our country Kenya today is confronted with complex integrity issues. Theft and plunder of public resources has been the common denominator of most of the first crop of devolved governments. The culture of corruption is deeply entrenched. Funds meant for public use have often ended up in the back-pockets of a few individuals while the common people continue to labour under the yoke of poverty, sickness, unemployment, lack of sufficient water, poor access roads and harsh business environments. All this must stop. Any act of corruption will lead to instant dismissal. We want a clean efficient government. Your main responsibility as you assume office today is to safeguard public resources and to ensure that they are used for the maximum benefit of our people. We are conducting a forensic audit of all departments. All those found to have stolen public money must go.

County officials are fond of making many unnecessary trips to Nairobi and buying goods and services at grossly exaggerated prices for their own personal gain. You must avoid waste and bueracratic extravagance in all your departments.

I urge you to move with speed and start implementation of our key promises which include provision of water, increasing our agricultural productivity , improving our health services, upgrading of feeder roads and urban roads, setting up of the Meru Youth Service and provision of free milk to all ECDE children in the county. I feel confident that you will all discharge your responsibilities with efficiency, honour, fairness, integrity and justice.

We promised our people a visionary, inclusive and transformative leadership; you are now part of this leadership. We look forward to your enthusiasm, initiative, and innovation as you embark on this journey.

I want to make Meru County a happy place to work. We cannot make Meru Great with a frustrated, demoralized and demotivated workforce. We shall do everything possible to motivate our staff, and improve their working environments.

Lastly, let me say how happy I am to see the Cabinet Secretary, the Senator, the Speaker, the MCAs, the County Commissioner, the police commanders, Heads of Departments and Religious Leaders with us here today as we launch our county government afresh. As I have said before, I want to put an end to the previously frosty relationship between the County Executive and County Assembly, and the County Government and the National Government.

We must work together and consult continuously on how to deal with our challenges and move the county forward. I want to establish several joint intergovernmental boards which will break administrative monopolies, and eliminate the current disjointed and compartmentalized delivery of services by various Government agencies in Meru County. As CECs you will be expected to work very closely with the County Assembly and the National Government officials in the County.

Next month, we shall hold "THE MERU WE WANT" Conference in which various key stakeholders will participate in shaping agenda for the future of Meru. As the CECs, you will be expected to play a leading role in planning and implementation of the resolutions of that Conference. This is how I want us to start the journey of together Making Meru Great!

Once again, I congratulate you all on your appointment and wish you the best in the service of our county.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Kiraitu Murungi

Governor, Meru County