Governor’s sweeping changes aim to inject new energy and align county departments with performance-driven goals
Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo has announced a comprehensive reshuffle of the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), signaling a renewed commitment to enhancing service delivery, accountability, and departmental efficiency across the devolved unit.
The changes, effected through Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, were made in accordance with Articles 179 (4) and (6) of the Constitution of Kenya, which empowers the Governor to constitute and reorganize the county executive committee in the interest of effective governance.
Speaking during the announcement at the County Headquarters in Mbale, Governor Ottichilo underscored the importance of aligning leadership with clearly defined performance targets to boost service delivery in critical sectors.
“These changes are not just routine transfers. They are meant to realign departmental leadership with our county’s development agenda and performance goals,” the Governor stated. “We are putting the right people in the right places to ensure we deliver tangible results to the people of Vihiga.”
Key Cabinet Changes
The reshuffle affected nine County Executive Committee Members, most of whom were transferred to new departments, while two retained their current dockets. Below is a breakdown of the major reassignments:
- Prof. Mike Iravo has been moved from the Department of Transport and Infrastructure to take charge of Physical Planning, Lands, Housing and Urban Development—a docket critical to the county’s spatial planning and urbanization agenda.
- Dr. Ruth Agesa transitions from Education and Technical Vocational Training to lead the Department of Gender, Youth, Culture, Sports and Social Services, with a mandate to strengthen inclusive youth empowerment and social cohesion initiatives.
- Dr. Nicholas Kitungulu, who previously served in the Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries department, will now head the Health Services docket—an area expected to undergo reform, especially in maternal health and community health systems.
- Julius Kiboen Maruja, formerly in charge of Health Services, will now oversee the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries department, where he is expected to spearhead food security and agribusiness development programs.
- Grace Kadenge, who served in Physical Planning and Urban Development, now takes the helm at the Transport and Infrastructure docket, a crucial portfolio in the county’s road connectivity and mobility agenda.
- Dr. Jairus Boston Amayi moves from Finance and Economic Planning to assume leadership of Environment, Water, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change, a department increasingly vital in the era of climate resilience and green development.
- Anne C. Desma has been redeployed from the Gender, Youth, Culture, Sports and Social Services docket to head Education and Technical Vocational Training, reinforcing the county’s focus on youth skills development and educational reform.
- Meshack Mulongo, previously in charge of Environment and Natural Resources, now becomes the new CECM for Finance and Economic Planning, taking on the pivotal role of steering fiscal discipline and budgetary alignment in county operations.
- Joseph K. Lunani (Commerce, Tourism and Cooperatives) and Dr. Nicholas K. Mwandihi (Public Service and Administration) retained their respective portfolios.
A Renewed Focus on Results and Accountability
Governor Ottichilo emphasized that the reshuffle is part of a broader county government strategy to inject new energy into key departments, hold CECMs accountable for delivery, and accelerate the implementation of development programs outlined in Vihiga County’s Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).
“We are not only realigning leadership; we are also reinforcing accountability, efficiency, and innovation. These changes are about putting service delivery back at the heart of our governance agenda,” he said.
The Governor urged the newly appointed executives to embrace their new roles with dedication, agility, and a people-first approach, noting that the citizens of Vihiga expect transformative leadership that directly impacts livelihoods.
Looking Ahead
As Vihiga County enters a critical phase of implementing post-COVID recovery programs, climate adaptation strategies, and infrastructure development, the reshuffle is expected to improve interdepartmental coordination, foster innovation, and accelerate project execution.
Governor Ottichilo’s cabinet reshuffle is widely seen as a proactive step to deliver on his second-term promises and cement a legacy of efficient, inclusive, and responsive devolved governance.
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