Jostling for hundreds of jobs in the 47 counties has begun as the newly elected governors prepare to take oath of office this week.

This election has seen one of the highest turnovers in the county leadership as 37 new governors will be assuming office this week after winning the August 9 elections.

Among the new faces will be seven female governors, who will be tasked with running their respective counties, until 2027. They are Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Cecily Mbarire (Embu). Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru also retained her seat and will be among those to be sworn in this week.  

New employees

Only 10 governors successfully defended the lucrative seats showing how competitive the battle for the topmost county seats has become since the inception of devolution in 2013. A number of the incumbents were serving their last terms in office paving the way for elevation of new faces to take their positions.

As has happened before, the new occupants—although some are making comebacks after losing the seats in 2017—will be tagging along new employees who they will assign powerful roles in the county administration.

The County Government Act enables a governor to appoint at most 10 County Executives Committee (CEC) members who will be in charge of policy administration in the counties. They will also have chief officers, who are often charged with execution of the policies and accounting for funds spent. They are also the county directors who serve under the COs among other senior officers.

The Assumption of the Office of the Governor Act sets stringent rules that must be followed in swearing them into office.

The law was passed in the Senate in 2019 following previous disorderly assumption of the offices demanding a law to enforce order in the exercise. “The governor-elect shall be sworn-in on the first Thursday after the 10^th day following the declaration of the final results of the election of the governor by the commission,” says the Act.

The law also demands the swearing-in must be done in public between 10am and 2pm on the day.

Among the newly elected county bosses, seven will be making comebacks after losing their seats in 2017 and will be seeking to yet again stamp their authority in the running of the counties. They are Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka who is reoccupying Bungoma governorship seat, Joshua Irungu (Laikipia), Julius Malombe (Kitui), Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo), Ahmed Jiir (Wajir), Nathif Jama (Garissa) and Simon Kachapin (West Pokot).

Identify venues

Only 10 sitting governors defended their seats and will be seeking to continue implementing the policies they started in the first term. They are Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Hillary Barchok (Bomet), Joseph Lenku (Kajiado), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Dhadho Godhana (Tana River) and Stephen Sang (Nandi).

Others are Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira), Wilbur Ottichilo (Vihiga) and Mohamud Ali (Marsabit).

The new faces include Senator James Orengo, who has ditched the Senate for the county governor. Other senators who won the governor contests are Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), Ochilo Ayacko (Migori), Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni), Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) and Kihika (Nakuru).

MPs who successfully tried their luck in the position are Simba Arati (Kisii), Jeremiah Lomorukai (Turkana), Mwangaza (Meru), Mbarire (Embu), Wanga (Homa Bay) and Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta).

Fresh faces at the helm of the counties include Jonathan Bii alias Koti Moja of Uasin Gishu, Erick Mutai (Kericho) and George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia).

Meru County Secretary and Head of Public Service Rufus Miriti, who chairs the sweating-in committee, said they were preparing for the big day. Miriti said they have been meeting since July to prepare for the swearing-in of the governor-elect and their main aim is to ensure that all aspects of swearing-in in terms of mobilisation, invitations, identifying of venues, and dates are taken care of.