Meru Governor picks Linda Kiome of IEBC selection panel as deputy, assembly to decide fate
She was a legal advisor to former Governor Kawira Mwangaza before their fallout.
Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia has nominated Lawyer Linda Kiome as his deputy, pending vetting and approval by the Meru County Assembly.
Kiome, currently serving as the Vice Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel, was picked from a pool of candidates that included both elected and nominated Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
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Kiome has a history in legal and political affairs. She briefly served as acting President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) after Nelson Havi’s removal and chaired the LSK Mt. Kenya caucus.
Additionally, she was a legal advisor to former Governor Kawira Mwangaza before their fallout.
In the 2022 elections, she was the running mate of former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi in the Meru gubernatorial race, where they finished second behind Mwangaza.
Her nomination comes days after Mutuma took office as governor following Mwangaza’s impeachment.
The former governor has, however, vowed to challenge her removal in court, claiming it was politically motivated.
"My impeachment was not a reflection of my performance or integrity but a calculated move by male chauvinists, political competitors, and for political expediency, a complicit National Government willing to silence a woman who dared to lead," Mwangaza stated on Facebook.
Meanwhile, a Bill before the Senate seeks to define the roles of deputy governors to prevent their sidelining in county leadership.
The County Government Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes giving deputy governors clear responsibilities, including overseeing county government operations, implementing executive committee decisions, and representing the county at national and intergovernmental meetings.
If passed, the law will require deputy governors to engage the public on governance matters and ensure financial accountability in county affairs.
Additionally, it proposes amendments to the Intergovernmental Relations Act to grant deputy governors representation in the National and County Government Coordinating Summit.
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