The strange thing that happened during Nyeri Governor's swearing-in

Authors:

Anthony Maina

November 14, 2017 10:20 AM

The new Governor took office a week after the death of his boss Dr Wahome Gakuru

The Nyeri County government on Monday witnessed the swearing in ceremony of its fourth governor, Mutahi Kahiga.

However, the swearing in ceremony had a strange element – not a single governor attended the rather low-key event held outside in Nyeri town.

Keen observers have since debated the loud statement sent by governors who skipped the ceremony, despite receiving invitations.

The handful of guests included local MPS, MCAs while Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen was the only national leader at the ceremony.

Some of the neighbouring governors including those from Nyandarua, Laikipia, Murang’a and Kirinyaga were less than an hour’s drive from the event.

No explanation was given by any of the 46 governors who gave the ceremony a wide berth.

However, the Council of Governors has shown its reluctance in celebrating the rise of Kahiga who took over just a week after the death of his former boss Dr Wahome Gakuru.

On the day when Gakuru passed, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko who is a member of the Council of Governors faulted the law which makes deputy governors immediate heirs in the event that a sitting County boss passes on.

The Nyeri County legal advisor would later announce that Gakuru’s deputy would be sworn last week on Thursday.

The ceremony was later postponed upon the advice of the Council of Governors, who had requested the swearing-in to take place after the burial of the deceased Governor.

The postponement, however, did not last long after a group of teachers threatened to lead protests until Kahiga was sworn in.

The current Nyeri Governor will be having big shoes to fill given that the highest administrative position he has held is that of a primary school head teacher.

He has also served an official of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Nyeri branch.