Meru: Meru Governor Rev. Mutuma M’ Ethingia has held the inaugural County Staff Engagement Forum, aimed at charting the way forward in service delivery to the residents. Speaking during the forum, Mutuma revealed that the event was also intended to enhance interdepartmental communication, share his vision for effective service delivery, listen to staff insights, receive feedback and innovative ideas, and celebrate the dedication and achievements of all county teams.

According to Kenya News Agency, the governor emphasized that public service is the engine of any government and the bridge that connects the government to the people, ensuring that their voices are heard and people-centered services are provided. He highlighted the impact public servants have on various sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, town order, environmental safety, county transport, and water provision.

Mutuma stated that every decision and action taken by public servants has the potential to transform the lives of the
people they serve. He described Meru as facing a moment of rebirth, renaissance, and a new beginning in its history. Acknowledging past challenges, he expressed understanding of the difficulties faced by the staff, including delayed salaries, unremitted statutory deductions, and the effects of haphazard decisions.

The governor outlined plans to implement a public service transformation strategy, prioritizing staff salaries, remitting statutory deductions, and effecting pending promotions. He directed the public service to start receiving requests from staff of the defunct Meru Town Council wishing to join the mainstream service to prevent career stagnation.

Additionally, Mutuma instructed the public service County Executive, Baptista Muriiki, to ensure that all staff are transferred to the new health service cover provider by the end of the month, ensuring they effectively access health services, including revenue staff.