Governor Orders Cabinet Reshuffle Amid Poor Service Delivery Claims

GOVERNOR MBARIRE SHUFFLES EMBU CABINET AS DOCTORS RETURN TO WORK
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has announced a major reshuffle within her cabinet and senior county administration in a bid to improve service delivery and stabilize operations across key sectors. The changes, communicated through a memo dated January 12, come just as county doctors resumed duty after a two-day strike that disrupted health services. According to the governor, the reassignments are intended to seal administrative gaps, strengthen departmental leadership, and ensure smoother delivery of essential services to residents.
In the new lineup, former Trade, Investment, Tourism and Industrial Development CECM Jamal Abdi Runyenje has been moved to the Health docket, replacing Francis Ndwiga, who now takes over the Trade and Investment portfolio. Chief Officer Damiano Muthee has been reassigned to Finance from Roads and Public Works, while Paul Njoroge Thiga shifts from Finance to head Roads and Public Works. The health department, which has faced heightened tensions in recent days, has also undergone significant adjustments. Former acting Embu Level 5 Hospital CEO Daniel Mugendi has been redeployed to General Duty, while Bancy Mutuah—previously Chief Officer for Gender, Children, Culture and Social Services—takes over as acting CEO of Embu Level 5 Hospital.
The reshuffle closely follows the resolution of the doctors’ strike, during which 97 medical practitioners represented by KMPDU cited poor working relations with the county government. Their return to duty came after a series of negotiations resulted in key agreements. These include promotions for senior doctors aged 55 and above, expedited cadre progression for those in job groups M and N, and a commitment to address a shortage of at least 50 doctors by hiring new staff as vacancies arise. Contracted doctors will also be converted to permanent and pensionable terms using funds previously allocated to retired officers.
Additionally, the county government has committed to clearing Sh278 million in pending third-party deductions in the upcoming budget cycle. Governor Mbarire further announced the formation of a bipartisan technical committee to oversee the implementation of the agreed reforms, with a detailed report expected next week. The governor expressed optimism that the reforms—combined with the administrative reshuffle—will reposition Embu County for more efficient service delivery and restore confidence in the health sector.