Land within Kericho town and other urban centres that have been grabbed by unscrupulous individuals will revert to public use, new Kericho governor Dr Eric Mutai has declared.
Dr Mutai who was sworn into office Thurday at a colourful ceremony held at Kericho green stadium said that he would not hesitate to pull down buildings erected on grabbed public land saying this had denied services to the residents of Kericho.
Speaking after taking the oath office, Dr Mutai warned Chief Officers and Chief Executive Committee members against engaging in contractual businesses and those going against the directive would be relieved of their duties.
The new Kericho governor promised to ensure dispensaries, health centres and County referral hospitals are supplied with enough medicine and equipped so that the residents could get health services promptly.
Dr Mutai said that nurses who had been hired and were working on temporary terms would be put on permanent and pensionable terms.
Governor Mutai urged the national government to streamline KEMSA to enable counties procure and purchase drugs from the institution easily.
He thanked the outgoing governor Prof Paul Chepkwony for steering the County to its present status and promised to ensure that projects he had initiated would be completed and others started.
Dr Mutai took the oath of office together with his Deputy Eng. Fred Kirui, after emerging winners in the combative gubernatorial elections witnessed in the just concluded polls. The function was graced by the first Lady Mrs Betty Mutai.
The oath of office was administered by the Kericho High Court Judge, Lady Justice Roseline Korir who challenged the elected leaders to follow the Constitution as they serve the residents of Kericho County.
After Dr. Mutai had received his certificate of the inauguration, the outgoing governor Prof. Paul Chepkwony handed over to him county symbols of administration which comprised of a county flag, the Constitution, County coat-of-arms and the County public seal, to mark the transfer of authority and executive power.
Present at the ceremony were Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Belgut MP elect Nelson Koech, Kipkellion West MP elect Hilary Kosgei, elected Members of County Assembly (MCAs), national government officers led by Kericho County Commissioner Mr Karungo Kamau. County staff, the clergy, and people from all walks of life.
Source: Kenya News Agency