The Luo community in Malindi has welcomed the appointment of one of their members to the Kilifi County government position of chief officer.
Led by Robert Onyuka who is the Secretary General of the Malindi Luo Association, they thanked Governor Gideon Mung’aro and the County Public Service Board (CPSB) for the shortlisting of Mr. Naftal Owino as the Chief Officer for Youth and Sports, a first lucrative position for the community since the advent of Kilifi County.
Mr. Onyuka said that community has been supporting leaders seeking elective positions in the area but ended up getting nothing in return citing the last ten years under former governor who is currently Senate Speaker Amason Kingi whom he said never bothered to employ luos in his administration.
“I take this opportunity to thank the CPSB for the interview they did and shortlisting Mr. Naftal Owino for the position of chief officer for Youth and Sports. We shall continue supporting the governor as we have done before. It has been long overdue and we have been voting here and none of us has ever been considered for such a position and we thank the governor so much,” he said.
Mr. Owino is among 24 Chief Officers shortlisted to be vetted by the County Assembly starting on Monday, 28th November.
Mr. Tom Onyango said that the position was a payback for their support towards Mung’aro during the campaign period.
“For the last ten years we have been supporting Amason Kingi but it is Mung’aro who has recognized our efforts ten years down the line. I believe Mr. Naftal will deliver on his assignment upon assuming office,” he said.
Mr. Gerald Opiyo lauded Governor Mung’aro as a man of his word saying that he promised to include all communities residing in Kilifi in his administration and he had done what his predecessor failed to do.
“Naftal did what it takes to deliver votes in Kilifi County and he led the ODM team which eventually saw Mung’aro elected as the second Governor of Kilifi County. We supported Kingi when he was governor for ten years but he never recognized our campaign efforts,” he said.
The community also called on Mr. Naftal to perform his duties diligently for the benefit of the Kilifi youth.