• Since devolution in 2013, wrangles between county chiefs and their deputies have dogged some counties.
• Some of the power wars have always caused a rift on the legislative wing whereby MCAs end up bringing an impeachment motion.
Image: DAVID MUSUNDI
Supremacy battles and infights have always caused a drift between governors and their deputies.
Since devolution in 2013, wrangles between county chiefs and their deputies have dogged some counties.
Some of the power wars have always caused a rift on the legislative wing whereby MCAs end up bringing an impeachment motion.
Just after a year since the August 2022 general elections, at least five counties have had their governors and deputies at loggerheads; Baringo, Trans Nzoia, Kericho, Siaya and Meru.
Siaya and Meru counties went all the way to the impeachment level.
Trans Nzoia
The differences between Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Deputy Governor Philomena Kapkory in November landed at the Senate and NCIC.
National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) summoned Natembeya over ethnic contempt.
NCIC Chairperson Samuel Kobia appeared on November 20, 2023, before the Senate Devolution Committee following Kapkory's claims that she has been unable to return to Trans Nzoia for fear of her security following threats by some junior county employees.
This comes as a disagreement between Natembeya and his deputy Philomena Kapkory played out in the session.
The DG alleged that her life was in danger for calling out Natembeya over the alleged utterances he made against one community when he appeared before the National Dialogue Committee NADOC seeking the formation of a new county.
Kapkory early this month alleged she had been excluded, discriminated against, and sidelined in decision-making and running of county affairs.
“The threats issued against me were personal and the constant message was that I am not required to step in my office as I had become a “persona non-grata,” she told the Senate Devolution Committee inquiring into the allegations early this month.
“The threats were to the effect that if I stepped in the office or if I was seen, the said officials were ready to deal with me."
According to the documents placed by the commission before the committee, Governor Natembeya was caught on camera saying that there is no way Trans Nzoia County will cede land for the creation of a new county.
The matter as of November 25, 2023, was still not solved.
Image: FILE
Baringo
In May this year, Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and his deputy Felix Maiyo Kipng’ok clashed over the choice of nominees for chief officer positions submitted to the County Assembly.
Maiyo claimed that he was sidelined in the appointment of 19 chief officers, saying what Cheboi did was against his father’s wishes.
Maiyo succeeded his father, Charles Kipng’ok, after his demise in September 2022.
Soon after the names of the 19 chief officers were submitted to the county assembly for vetting, Maiyo went public and expressed his dissatisfaction over the choice of Cheboi’s nominees.
“I am sorry to have failed in delivering your wishes. Please forgive me. Continue resting in peace Dad,” Maiyo wrote on the Baringo Liberal Minds WhatsApp Group.
Maiyo received support from some Members of the County Assembly led by Kabarnet ward representative Arnest Kibet.
However, Governor Cheboi denied any fallout between him and the deputy, insisting they have a good working relationship.
Kericho
The differences between Kericho Governor Eric Mutai and his deputy Fred Kirui are alleged to have stemmed from governance issues at the county government.
It all started during Madaraka Day celebrations where the two faced off publicly.
DG Kirui faulted the county leadership for not providing him with adequate fuel, revealing that he had to dig into his pocket to fuel his vehicle.
He also highlighted a pre-election agreement between the duo that led to him stepping down in favour of Mutai as he urged the governor to accord him respect.
“The governor is here, he knows what we talked about when I was seeking the gubernatorial seat until I stepped down and joined him …he is the Governor and I’m the deputy,” he said to mixed reactions from the crowd.
In response, Governor Mutai seemingly appeared to have lectured his deputy over what he termed as preaching ‘petty' politics after the latter, in his address, complained over disrespect and lack of adequate resources to enable him to traverse the county.
“If you go around the whole world discussing some things, it will not help us or bring food to the table. What brings food to the table is what we can do for these people,” Mutai said.
“We may have our internal issues but the best way to do it is to come to the office and discuss the issues. Let’s mature so that we rise above petty politics."
The public spat caught the attention of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who talked tough to the duo urging them to forget their differences or risk being voted out.
The DP said Kericho which is the president's home and political stronghold was a letdown and an embarrassment over the endless war of words between the two.
Mutai and Kirui have since then buried the hatchet and vowed to work together.
Image: FILE
Siaya
Siaya Governor James Orengo and Deputy William Oduol feud found its way to the Senate House for impeachment.
In March, Oduol accused his boss of allowing mismanagement of public resources to thrive in the young administration through what the DG described as "questionable characters" in his administration.
Orengo in return hit back at his deputy describing him as an amateur in elective politics who has never won even a civic seat.
This saw an impeachment in June where the DG was impeached after 42 Siaya MCAs unanimously adopted the report of the special committee that was established to investigate the grounds for which a motion of impeachment was tabled against him on June 29, 202
When the case headed to the Senate, Oduol survived impeachment after 27 out of 43 senators voted to keep him in office.
Senators allied to President William Ruto openly supported Oduol while those allied to Opposition leader Raila Odinga sought to have him impeached.
Despite being saved by the Senate, the DG vowed to continue calling out devolved corruption in his county.
Image: HANDOUT
Meru
In Meru, Governor Kawira Mwangaza and her Deputy Isaac Mutuma have a frosty relationship.
In August, Mwangaza and Mutuma were on a collision course barely a year in office. At the heart of their fights were claims of nepotism, sabotage and exclusion.
Mutuma alleged the governor no longer invites him to executive meetings, his official vehicles had been withdrawn, and some of the staff assigned to him sacked.
However, Mwangaza dismissed the claims, saying the sacked staff had no required academic qualifications.
What followed next in October 2023, Governor Mwangaza was unanimously impeached by the Meru County Assembly following the tabling of a second motion for her removal from office.
All 59 MCAs who were present in the House voted in support of the motion to remove Mwangaza from office.
The impeachment came after MCAs completed mandatory public participation hearings in nine sub-counties earlier in the week and retreated to write a final report that was tabled in the Assembly.
MCAs accused Mwangaza of committing seven violations which formed grounds for her impeachment.
However, the Senate saved her for the second time and dismissed all the charges in a vote, giving Mwangaza a new lease of life in the county leadership.
She faced charges of misappropriation and misuse of resources, nepotism, bullying, illegal appointments, contempt of court, and naming a road after her husband illegally.
Governor Mwangaza, however, denied all the charges and put up a spirited defence saying she was being victimised as a woman leader.