Elections are now over and winners announced. It is now to the next phase where those that were elected are sworn in – before they officially begin their work.
While Members of the National Assembly, Senate and County Assemblies will be sworn in the first session of the respective assemblies, Governors will take the oath of office in a public event.
The law requires that a governor is sworn in by a judge gazetted by the Chief Justice, assisted by a magistrate – who is also required to have been gazetted.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has already gazetted the judges and magistrates that will handle the swearing-in of all the 47 governors.
“The Assumption of Office of Governor Act, 2019 requires that upon election into the office of Governor and Deputy Governor, the Judiciary shall appoint judges to oversee the swearing-in of the Governor and Deputy Governor-elect in accordance with the Act. In that regard, I hereby appoint the judges as per the schedule attached herein to conduct the swearing-in ceremony upon election and gazettement by the IEBC,” CJ Koome said while appointing the 47 judges.
We take a look at the Judges and magistrates that will handle the swearing-in of the governors in the North Rift;
Nandi – Governor Stephen Sang
- Judge – Eric Ogolla
- Magistrate – Samuel Mokua
Uasin Gishu – Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim (Koti Moja)
- Judge – Prof. Joel Ngugi
- Magistrate – Dennis Mikoyan
Elgeyo Marakwet – Governor Wisely Rotich
- Judge – Reuben Nyakundi
- Magistrate – Charles Kutwa
Trans Nzoia – Governor George Natembeya
- Judge – Joseph Karanja
- Magistrate – Julius Ng’arng’ar
Baringo – Govenror Moses Cheboi
- Judge – Hillary Chemitei
- Magistrate – Judith Wanjala
West Pokot – Govenror Simon Kachapin
- Judge – Anthony Mrima
- Magistrate – Bernard Ochieng
Just like the swearing-in of a President, the law requires that a governor is sworn in during a public function.
Already plans for the swearing-in should have started, as soon as a governor-elect is announced.
A committee chaired by the County Secretary is mandated to plan for the swearing-in of the Governor.
The law requires that a governor is sworn in not earlier than 10.00 am and not later than 2.00 pm.
And that the swearing-in ceremony must be held ten days after the declaration of the final results of the election of the county governor by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
