Former Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire who was on Tuesday elected as the next Kilifi County Assembly speaker has promised to embrace the spirit of devolution to help in transforming the county to another level in his tenure.
Speaker Mwambire said the previous regime formulated many laws which have not been effected and will make sure they are implemented so that the devolution can be felt from the grassroots.
He spoke after officially handing over the instruments of Power from outgoing speaker Jimmy Kahindi.
Mr Kahindi was Mr Teddy’s former boss, having served as Deputy Speaker from 2013 to 2017 before becoming MP he said they are going to support the new administration of Gideon Mung’aro in formulating his government.
He said they will be ready to begin vetting Chief officers and County executive members of the county in two weeks’ time as the MCAs will be going for an injunction to enlighten them on how to execute their mandate effectively.
“We want to make sure that devolution works effectively, for the last 10 years you have not seen even the so-called village administrators in the county of Kilifi, this is the time I will be so close to the Governor to ensure we lay the foundation from the grassroots,” he said.
Mwambire said they will also play an oversight role to make sure revenue collection is perfect to bring in more money to the devolved government for proper service delivery.
He said they intend to set up committees and take the MCAs for induction after which they will be ready to vet the CEC members and chief officers appointed by the Governor.
“What is important now is to help the governor formulate his government because the law says the governor cannot form his government without sending the proposed executive members for vetting by the assembly,” he said.
The former speaker said he was happy to have served in the office for 10 years and managed to spearhead the formation of many laws.
He put the new executive led by Mung’aro into the task to ensure the laws are implemented for the benefit of the people of Kilifi.
“Their first responsibility is to make sure the laws are implemented immediately the county assembly begins its work am very happy because I have worked here and am leaving a happy man,” he said.
The former Speaker said people thought he would be in the race but reminded them of the old saying that a good dancer knows when to leave the stage.
On his part, the Governor said he was happy that the process of electing the speaker and his deputy was complete and the assembly will begin working soon.
He said they were elected but are yet to begin work because it was until the assembly is in place.
“When the assembly begins its work we will be able to do so many things that we are required to do I am happy that it went well people voted smoothly and I congratulate all those elected today, he said.
Mung’aro said their biggest task as MCAs is to oversee how the people of Kilifi are served.
He said they will also look into the budget for the next financial year so as to begin a strategy of executing their mandate which they were elected to do by the people.
The County assembly now is led by ODM and deputized by the Jubilee Party which makes it an Azimio la Umoja one coalition house.
