The silent war between President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua is rearing its ugly head in the forthcoming elections for the Council of Governors chair as the term of the incumbent Anne Waiguru comes to an end.

By afternoon yesterday, two governors: Wajir’s Ahmed Abdullahi and his Nyeri counterpart Mutahi Kahiga had tabled their nomination forms  for consideration.

Kiambu’s Kimani Wamatangi who is also being touted among his colleagues was yet to submit his papers.

Kahiga and Wamatangi were elected as county bosses through the UDA ticket while Abdullahi is from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM party. Already, Kahiga’s presentation of his papers has elicited friction within Ruto’s camp due to his closeness to Gachagua.

Though considered by many of the governors as the “right person” to push the government to the corner on devolution matters, allies of President Ruto view him as “a too anti-government.” Yesterday, Kahiga urged his colleagues not to be tied by the ongoing rivalry between Ruto and Gachagua but elect an individual capable of defending devolution. “It is not about Ruto or Gachagua but about who can fight for the interests of devolution. We must look at the bigger picture of protecting devolution which the government appears inclined to kill,” Kahiga said.

Political climate

The election for the new COG chair is slated for October 7, 2024 and will happen at a time when the political climate in the country is heating up. United Democratic Alliance, the party through which Waiguru won the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat, is currently embroiled in a discord between its chairman President Ruto and his vice chairman Deputy Gachagua.

Of the three, Wamatangi was the most preferred candidate among his peers to succeed Waiguru as colleagues argue that he has maintained a sober and neutral position about the unfolding political situation and especially the ruling UDA party infightings. Governors also credit him for being a strong defender of devolution since the time he was a Senator.

However, he comes from the Central region same as the outgoing chair and is likely to be dropped as the seat may be handed to a sitting governor from outside the region of the incumbent. Wamatangi was not reachable for comment.The COG chair is a rotational seat where the officeholder serves for a one-year term but may seek to be re-elected once. Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto was the first chairman of the COG and was succeeded by his former Meru Governor Peter Munya Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok served as the third chairman before being succeeded by former Kakamega Wycliffe Oparanya who eventually handed over to Waiguru.

Going by regions where Waiguru predecessors originated from, counties in the greater North Eastern, Coastal and Nyanza regions had never a governor serving at the apex of the council. Among the three hopefuls, Abdullahi who is also serving as the vice chairman of COG has the upper hand in being  elected as the next chair.

Governor Abdullahi is seen as a vocal arbitrator having successfully brokered a truce between the county governments, doctors and clinical officers through a return-to-work formula. He has been instrumental in proposing and drafting bills on devolution.

However, Abdullahi’s undoing for the role of the CoG chair is that he is viewed as not being bold enough to withstand President Ruto’s administration which is accused of manipulating the council leadership. Critics say that the chairmanship being a political seat, Abdullahi may not have the stamina to resist government manipulation and pressure to endorse its agenda at the expense of governors’ interests. But Abdullahi says he has what it takes for the position. “My tenure as the CoG deputy chair speaks for itself. My push for devolution has been evident and I am determined to ensure that the government surrenders all devolved functions as well as release funds on time,” Abdullah said.

Mutahi on the other hand has been described as a bold and consistent figure who on numerous occasions has condemned the delayed disbursement to money owed to counties by the National Treasury. For the COG chair position, he may not be the favourite due to his fierce anti-Ruto remarks which could likely cause bad blood between the council and the government.

The Governor, widely seen as Gachagua’s right-hand man has also been at the forefront of defending the embattled Deputy President who is facing growing hostility from Ruto allies in the Mt Kenya region who have shifted their support to the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki. Waiguru has served the council for two terms having been initially elected in September 2022 and then re-elected through general consensus during a full council meeting in October last year.

Glass ceiling

She broke the glass ceiling to become the first woman to sit at the helm of COG and the fifth chairperson but exits the council amid a myriad of challenges affecting the counties and blamed on the national government. The jinx of late disbursement of equitable share revenue still haunts the county governments where currently National Treasury is withholding an estimated Sh100 billion owed to the 47 devolved units.

The money was supposed to fund operations and pay workers and suppliers of the counties in July, August and September 2024. Earlier this month, CoG Chief executive Mary Mwiti wrote to the Senate Finance Committee to protest over the delayed disbursement of the funds, stating that as of September 5, no county had received its allocations for the three months.

“We note that the current status has paralysed operations of the counties with regards to continuity of service delivery, payment of suppliers and remuneration of county employees,” the letter read in part.

Waiguru’s replacement is expected to take the national government head on over the delayed disbursements to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted running of counties. Additionally, this week, counties served a major blow after the National Treasury sliced the money allocated to counties by Sh20 billion from Sh400 billion to Sh380 billion. The incoming chair will also be hard pressed to champion the wish of governors to have the equitable share revenue increased to Sh450 billion.