Kajiado Governor Joseph Lenku on Friday sacked his Trade CEC Jackline Koin and appointed seven new chief officers in a move that has sparked heated political debate in Kajiado East.
Members of the Kaputiei clan have termed the move a blow to their community.
Lenku’s hammer landed on Koin after several years of alleged “quarreling” between her and Kaputiei North MCA Joshua Olowuasa, who is a close ally of the governor.
Rumours of her impending sacking had been circulating in Kaputiei North since January after Olowuasa and Koin had been summoned by the governor and asked to work together.
But the MCA told the Star on Saturday that “he has no hand in the sacking of Koin,” adding that the governor is the appointing and sacking authority.
“When we went to Arusha, Tanzania, two months ago, I shook hands with Koin. We buried the hatchet before the members of the county assembly and the executive and the governor was our witness,” Olowuasa said.
Olowuasa claimed that he suspects Koin was dropped because of incompetence issues.
The Star could not reach Koin on the phone to respond to Olowuasa’s claim and our messages were also not replied to.
But a source allied to the sacked county minister who declined to be named because of her position in the county said Koin was even ready to quit as Lenku’s CEC member after the last general election, but later changed her mind.
The source claimed some unnamed people associated with the governor wanted her out of the Lenku’s administration and that the same people forced the county assembly to summon the former minister twice early this year over administrative issues in her department.
“Three CECs, including Koin had been targetted for sacking. The ODM MCAs allied to Lenku were on Koin’s neck but luckily, the UDA MCAs stood by her in the assembly and rejected calls for her impeachment,” Koin’s ally said.
Regarding the handshaking between Koin and MCA Olowuasa in Arusha, Tanzania, Koin’s ally said: “That was a stunt that was aimed at changing the tact and opening a process of sacking Koin.”
The source further claimed that Koin was transferred from the Agriculture docket to Trade early in the year, but was denied an office and official car.
“Already, Koin knew her time had come but chose not to resign,” the source said.
Koin's close ally further claimed that before the last general election, the outgoing minister stopped Lenku’s “persons” from acquiring some government assets in Kajiado.
“Before that election, again, Koin stopped an MCA from grabbing government land in the Enkeju Oloolowuarak area. She objected to the matter and the National Land Commission flagged it,” Koin’s source claimed.
Another associate of Koin, Peter Kikayaya, said the minister was hit by clan intricacies fronted by those associated with the governor aimed at realigning for the 2027 elections.
Kikayaya said some of the clan members are not comfortable with Koin and are worried that she may be gunning for a political seat in the next general election.
Governor Lenku was not available for comment after the sacking of Koin. The outgoing county minister was replaced by Leah Marias, a former teacher from Kitengela, the Kaputiei community.
Marias, who is set to face the county assembly and if approved, will take over the Trade docket.
At the same time, Governor Lenku nominated the following persons for the position of chief officer; Julius Moipai (Health), Kintalel Peloi (Investments Enterprise Development), James Ngugi (Environment), Peter Ongaro (Public Works), and Julius Marao (Cooperative Development).
Others are; Naomi Parinkoi (Administration), and Wilson Mweka (Youth).
Names of the seven nominees will be transmitted to the county assembly for vetting.