Council Of Governors Elects New Leadership With Governor Abdullahi Replacing Anne Waiguru
On Monday, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi was elected chairperson of the Council of Governors, succeeding Kirinyaga counterpart Anne Waiguru, whose tenure ended after two terms.
Today, I presented my final State of Devolution Address as Chair of the Council of Governors, where we highlighted the significant progress made by counties in diverse high-impact areas across Kenya. From improvements in healthcare infrastructure and workforce, to the remarkable… pic.twitter.com/7OCaMMd7Tu
— Anne Waiguru EGH, OGW (@AnneWaiguru) October 7, 2024
Abdullahi won the election held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga was elected as his Vice Chairperson.
The race initially brought together five county chiefs who competed for the position.
They included Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Mutahi Kahiga of Nyeri, Muthomi Njuki of Tharaka Nithi, Joseph Ole Lenku of Kajiado, and Johnson Sakaja of Nairobi.
Following the declaration, Waiguru is expected to deliver her final State of the Nation address at the same venue and hand over the mantle.
The election process, which lasted more than five hours, included several key considerations before any of the chiefs could be elected to the position.
The number of previous Council meetings attended by a contestant was a major consideration.
The process also aimed to ensure regional balance in the election of Kenya’s next CoG chairperson, so that the seat did not return to the same region consecutively.
This is said to have worked for Abdullahi because he comes from a county that has not had its leaders lead the Council.
Muthomi Njoki, the governor of Tharaka Nithi, will continue to chair the CoG’s Health committee.
The Council of Governors Congratulates H.E. FCPA @HEAhmedJiir, Governor Wajir County, H.E @GovernorKahiga , Governor Nyeri County and H.E @Araap_Sang , Governor Nandi County on the election as the new Council of Governors Chairperson, Vice Chair and Whip respectively. pic.twitter.com/y16JjFjKly
— Council of Governors (@KenyaGovernors) October 7, 2024
He is expected to play a key role in the implementation of Kenya’s universal health coverage strategies, as the national government pushes for the transition to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The elections were supposed to be a consensus, but the Governors couldn’t agree on who should take over.
This prompted a ballot process, in which the Wajir County chief was declared the winner.
Abdullahi will now lead the Council of County Governors (CoG), a non-partisan organization comprised of the Governors of 47 counties established under Section 19 of the IGRA 2012, and will be expected to advocate for the counties’ interests.
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He will also be tasked with championing timely resource allocation to counties, despite the ongoing standoff between the national government and the counties over delayed financial disbursement.
The government’s position has threatened to cripple services in devolved units.
Other key functions he will be expected to oversee include promoting visionary leadership, sharing best governance practices, and providing a collective voice on policy issues affecting county government performance.
Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary, is also expected to attend the welcoming ceremony and the installation of the Wajir County Chief as Chairperson of the Governor’s Council.
Council Of Governors Elects New Leadership With Governor Abdullahi Replacing Anne Waiguru
