[Education CS Fred Matiang’i in a past event. Kisii Governor James Ongwae now wants him to desist from participating in politics. Photo/NATION]
Governor James Ongwae has told off Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i for his Sunday outburst against him saying it was in bad taste.
In a hard-hitting rejoinder to comments made by the CS at Nyanturago on Sunday, the governor said he was not interested in following the CS around the region as reported in a section of the media.
His comments came in the wake off a newspaper story attributed to the CS who told him to keep off his functions.
Governor Ongwae said the CS had erred in making derogatory remarks concerning his visit to Nyanturago, accusing him of playing street politics.
“As a governor of this county and citizen of this county, I have right to traverse the region and meet the residents. I think the CS is trying to engage in showmanship and mere street politics,” said the governor.
He told the Nation he had no interest in following the CS on his tours in the region, saying he was fully engaged in fulfilling his development agenda.
“My voters did not elect me to follow national government employees around but rather to deliver on my development pledges and better their quality of life in the process,” said Governor Ongwae.
He denied going to Masimba Catholic Parish as a ploy to follow the CS, saying he had also been invited to the fundraiser graced by the CS.
Dr Mtiangi had gone to thye church fundraisers accompanied by a number of high-ranking Gusii professionals.
During the function, also attended by former KICC chairman and senatorial aspirant Omingo Magara, Dr Matiangi asked residents to vote wisely at the August polls.
“You can see the sort of work I am doing and the government that gave me a job is Jubilee. Vote wisely and ensure that the continuity of the good work you would like to see being done on your behalf,” said the CS.
During the meeting, Governor Ongwae, senatorial aspirant Prof Sam Ongeri and women representative Senator Janet Ongera (Nominated) walked in midway through the proceedings.
The CS then greeted them, engaged them in a brief chat before leaving the meeting for a Jubilee rally in Nyanturago that was presided over by governorship aspirant Chris Obure.
At the Nyanturago meeting, Dr Matiangi attacked the governor and the other ODM aspirants for waiting for him to gather crowds before they could come to address them.
“If they wanted crowds to address, why couldn’t they call another meeting to air their views instead of gatecrashing our function? We were not together since I don’t even know them,” charged the CS.
On his part, Governor Ongwae defended himself from the accusations by Matiangi, saying he was also an invited a guest at the Masimba function.
“I went to Masimba Catholic Parish strictly for the purpose of attending the mass and meeting the constituents. Meeting or following the CS were nowhere on my agenda for the day,” said Governor Ongwae.
He cautioned the CS and other state officials against getting involved in the politics of the region, saying that civil servants were expected to be neutral during the campaign period.
Section 24 of the Public Officer Ethics Act of 2003 outlaws the participation of public servants in political activities.
Section 24 (1) states that a public officer shall not, in the performance of his or duties - act as an agent for, or further the interests of, a political party or a political candidate at an election; or manifest support for, or opposition to, any political party or political candidate at an election. A public officer shall remain politically neutral during his or her term of employment.
Section (2) states that a public officer shall not— (a) engage in the activities of any political party or politicalcandidate or act as an agent of a political party or a political candidate at an election; or (b) publicly indicate support for or opposition against any political party or political candidate at an election.
“As a human resources expert and senior civil servant with long experience in government, my humble advice to Dr Matiangi and other colleagues is to keep off the campaigns since this could have the effect of jeopardizing their careers in future. He needs to read the Public Officer Ethics Act of 2003 and familiarize itself with its contents and prescriptions for the c9onduct of civil servants,” said Governor Ongwae.
He told the CS to tread carefully in matters politics in the region, saying the people had already decided to cast their ballots for Raila Odinga.
“We know that his frequent trips to the region are meant to drum up support for Jubilee, but it is important for him to realize that this remains an ODM zone. These are Jubilee’s final days in office before our president Raila Odinga takes over and he should not imagine that his trips to the region will sway the voters’ minds,” said the governor.