CoG Announces New Chairperson Replacing Anne Waiguru
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi was elected on Monday to become the new chairperson of the Council of Governors, succeeding Anne Waiguru from Kirinyaga, whose term concluded after two full terms in office.
The election took place at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, where Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga was also elected as Abdullahi’s Vice Chairperson.
Initially, five county governors were in the running for the position, including Wajir’s Ahmed Abdullahi, Nyeri’s Mutahi Kahiga, Tharaka Nithi’s Muthomi Njuki, Kajiado’s Joseph Ole Lenku, and Nairobi’s Johnson Sakaja.
Following the election announcement, Waiguru is set to deliver her final State of the Nation address at the same venue and officially transfer her responsibilities.
The election process lasted over five hours and considered several important factors before electing any of the governors. A significant criterion was the frequency of each candidate’s attendance at previous Council meetings.
Additionally, the process sought to maintain regional equity in selecting the next chairperson for Kenya’s CoG, ensuring that leadership did not repeatedly cycle back to the same region. This approach favored Abdullahi, as he represents a county that has not previously had leadership within the Council.
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Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njoki will continue to lead the CoG’s Health Committee, playing a vital role in the implementation of Kenya’s universal health coverage strategies, particularly as the national government promotes the transition to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The elections were initially intended to be resolved by consensus; however, disagreements among the governors led to a ballot vote, resulting in Abdullahi emerging victorious.
Abdullahi will now head the Council of County Governors (CoG), a non-partisan body formed under Section 19 of the (IGRA 2012), which includes the governors of all 47 counties, and will be tasked with advocating for county interests.
He will also be responsible for ensuring timely resource allocation to the counties amid ongoing tensions between the national government and the counties over delayed financial disbursements, a situation that poses a risk to services at the devolved units.
In addition, he is expected to promote visionary leadership, share best practices in governance, and provide a unified voice on policy matters regarding the performance of county governments.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is anticipated to participate in the welcoming ceremony and the formal installation of Wajir County’s Chief as the chairperson of the Governor’s Council.
CoG Announces New Chairperson Replacing Anne Waiguru
