Crisis after leaders' controversial move following Nyeri Governor's death

dennis kibet

November 11, 2017 11:18 AM

A section of leaders have been holding a series of secret nightly meetings.

Neri County has been thrown into a crisis following a move by a section of Nyeri leaders to block Deputy Governor Mutahi Kahiga to take over as county boss.

According to the constitution, if the office of the county governor becomes vacant through death then the Deputy Governor assumes office as county governor for the remainder of the term of the county governor.

Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru died last week after a grisly accident at Kabati near Kenol along the Thika- Murang'a road.

Gakuru had only served as Governor for less than two months.

He succeeded Governor Samuel Wamathai who himself took over the leadership of the County after the death of Nyeri first Governor Nderitu Gachagua.

However, according to The Standard, the section of Nyeri leaders have been holding a series of nightly meetings to come up with strategies of pressuring Kahiga to resign and have an elected person assume the office of governor until 2022.

“We are aware what the law provides, but let Mr Kahiga allow people to vote again in an election where he is also a candidate so that whoever wins can have full mandate of the people,” one of the leaders who sought anonymity said.

However, on Friday Kahiga announced he will be sworn into office next Monday and he insisted his decision was informed by legal obligations.

“After a lot of consultation and pressure I have decided to take oath of office because there are issues that legally need to be dealt with so that nothing we do will be considered illegal,” he declared.

dennis kibet