Lamu MCAs approve nomination of new Deputy Governor Mbarak Bahjaj
Lamu Health Executive Mbarak Bahjaj addressing the public at Mkunguni Square in Lamu Town.
What you need to know:
- During his tenure in office, the Mangai Dispensary in Lamu's terror-prone Boni Forest which had been closed for over ten years owing to recurrent Al-Shabaab attacks was equipped and reopened.
- Born on February 27, 1981, Mbarak is a certified Senior Medical Officer with over 15 years of cumulative clinical and field experience with the particular areas of interest being internal medicine, public health management, and reforms.
Lamu County Assembly has approved Dr Mbarak Bahjaj’s nomination as the next deputy governor.
The motion for his appointment was tabled to the House by Majority Leader of the Lamu County Assembly Mohamed Bwana on Thursday afternoon.
Ward reps went directly to the ballot where the vote count was 11 in favour of Dr Bahja while seven were absent.
What remains now is for Governor Issa Timamy to swear in his just-appointed deputy governor after he was unanimously approved by the House.
Dr Bahjaj replaces Mr Raphael Munyua Ndung'u who died on September 6, 2024.
Dr Bahjaj is currently serving as the Lamu County Executive Committee Member for Health, Sanitation, and Environment.
Mr Timamy's move to appoint Dr Bahjaj is seen by critics as bowing to pressure from the Lamu MCAs who have so far rejected the governor's initial nomination of James Gichu, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Food Security, to deputise him.
Mr Gichu was rejected twice, whereby in both sessions that were conducted in October and November 2024, he failed to get simple majority votes in the House.
It emerged that ethnic politics was at play by then, with MCAs admitting that they were under pressure to only approve a deputy governor nominee who is from the indigenous local communities.
However, Mr Timamy's new nomination could have also considered Dr Mbarak’s achievements in his Health docket.
Within two years, he has overseen the establishment of six maternity wings in various areas of Lamu to help fight maternal and newborn death rates in the county's hard-to-reach areas such as Mpeketoni, Maisha Masha, Mkunumbi, Mokowe, Siyu, and Ndau.
During his tenure in office, the Mangai Dispensary in Lamu's terror-prone Boni Forest which had been closed for over ten years owing to recurrent Al-Shabaab attacks was equipped and reopened.
Speaking to the Nation shortly after his approval by the Lamu County Assembly, Dr Bahjaj pledged to work hard to ensure the devolved government under Governor Issa Timamy delivers as per the expectations of voters.
"I am happy to have been nominated by Governor Issa Timamy to deputise him. I thank him for believing in me. I am, as well, thankful to the County Assembly of Lamu for approving my nomination. I promise the people of Lamu that I will work together with the governor and ensure he delivers all his campaign promises plus attaining the general development of this place as required," said Dr Bahjaj.
Born on February 27, 1981, Mbarak is a certified Senior Medical Officer with over 15 years of cumulative clinical and field experience with the particular areas of interest being internal medicine, public health management, and reforms.
He is currently undertaking a Master of Science in Health Systems Management and Development at Kenya's Amref International University.
He also has a Master of Public Health Management with a special interest in Public Psychology and Communication from the James Lind Institute in Geneva, Switzerland.
Dr Bahjaj also has a Bachelor's Degree in Medicine and another Bachelor's Degree in Surgery from Egerton University.
His pending appointment comes at a time when constitutional experts had already raised concern over the delay in the appointment of deputy governor in Lamu County.
This is almost the sixth month Lamu has operated without a deputy governor in place following the demise of Mr Munyua in September last year.
Constitutional lawyer Bob Mkangi had told the Nation earlier this week that the county might risk suffering from a constitutional anomaly if the seat remained vacant for long.
Mr Mkangi noted that where a vacancy arises in the office of a Deputy Governor, the governor is supposed to nominate the Deputy Governor within fourteen days with the approval of the county assembly.
"Section 32 of the County Governments Act states that the Deputy Governor shall deputise for the Governor in executing the governor’s functions. Article 179(5) of the Constitution says that when the County Governor is absent, the Deputy County Governor shall act as the County Governor.
“So, the position is crucial constitutionally. I am surprised that six months have passed without a Deputy Governor in place in Lamu County. I am worried that if that proceeds, then Lamu might suffer from a constitutional anomaly," said Mr Mkangi on phone.
Residents and opinion leaders in Lamu have also raised concerns over the delay.