By Tobias Ogutu
There are only a few cactus species that bear fruit, just as only a few government offices consistently deliver positive results for the people they serve. Among the many administrative positions in Kenya’s local governance system, the Office of the Assistant Chief in Nyalenda A Sub-location has demonstrated that effective leadership can flourish even in the most challenging environments.
While many assistant chiefs across the country focus strictly on their prescribed administrative duties, the Office of the Assistant Chief in Nyalenda A has demonstrated that service to the community can extend far beyond the formal boundaries of bureaucracy. Through dedicated leadership and active community engagement, the office has become a reliable bridge between the government and the people, fostering trust, cooperation, and meaningful development.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this office’s work is its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. In many areas, tree planting has become a ceremonial act performed only when senior officials are present. However, in Nyalenda A, the Office of the Assistant Chief has ensured that environmental efforts are not one-day events but ongoing practices. By involving community members and youth groups, the office has fostered a culture of responsibility—where caring for trees and maintaining clean surroundings are viewed as shared duties rather than mere official programs. Richard Malalo, chairperson of the Nyalenda Determined Achievers Youth Group, confesses that the Office of the Assistant Chief has engaged them in various ways to keep the surroundings clean. The office has achieved this by connecting them with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on environmental management.
Beyond its environmental initiatives, the Office of the Assistant Chief has also become a center for mentorship and guidance. It provides an approachable space where young people can seek counsel on issues such as peaceful coexistence, drug prevention, and moral discipline. By remaining accessible and empathetic, the office has fostered an environment where dialogue replaces hostility and guidance replaces neglect. David Oyier recalls how the Office of the Assistant Chief chose to counsel him rather than administer punishment when he was brought in for robbery. David, a reformed youth, now confesses that, through the help of the Office of the Assistant Chief, he was integrated into a youth group focused on waste management and now earns two thousand shillings weekly for this work.
Transparency and efficiency have also distinguished the Office of the Assistant Chief in Nyalenda A. Residents associate it with fairness, speed, and accountability—values that are, unfortunately, rare in many administrative offices. Requests for documents, signatures, or official stamps are handled promptly, demonstrating that public service can be both effective and honest. At a burial ceremony in Wigwa, Millicent Nyamanga openly acknowledged the assistant chief’s office for not requesting a cash fee for signing documents, as was customary in the past.
In a governance landscape that often resembles a cactus—thorny and unyielding—the Office of the Assistant Chief in Nyalenda A stands out as a rare species: a cactus that bears fruit. Its efforts consistently provide nourishment to the community through integrity, environmental action, and youth empowerment.
The residents of Nyalenda A Sub-location continue to enjoy the benefits of this unique cactus, hopeful that the office will keep flourishing and set an example for other administrative units across Kenya. Indeed, the Office of the Assistant Chief remains a testament to what is possible when public administration is genuinely rooted in service to the people.
