The Uasin Gishu County Government has secured a legal victory in the Eldoret High Court regarding the appointment of its Deputy Governor, Evans Kipruto Kapkea.
The court, presided over by Justice Reuben Nyakundi, ruled in favour of the county’s petition against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), mandating the gazettement of Kapkea as the Deputy Governor.
The petition, filed on September 30, 2024, on the instructions of Uasin Gishu Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii Chelilim, sought to compel the IEBC Secretariat and CEO, Marjan Hussein Marjan, to formally gazette Kapkea as the duly nominated Deputy Governor.
In the petition, the County Government argued that the IEBC’s failure to act violated the rights of Uasin Gishu residents to representation.
On October 14, 2024, the court ruled that it had jurisdiction over the matter and that the petitioners had established violations of human rights, equality, democracy, and the rule of law.
IEBC ordered to gazette Evans Kapkea’s appointment
Subsequently, the court ordered the IEBC CEO to issue a gazette notice naming Kapkea as Deputy Governor within seven days.
If the IEBC fails to comply, the court granted the Governor the authority to initiate the gazettement process independently.
This ruling is seen as a significant win for devolution and governance in Uasin Gishu County.
The County Solicitor expressed gratitude to the court for its swift resolution of the matter and congratulated Kapkea ahead of his official swearing-in.
The Uasin Gishu County Government now awaits the IEBC’s compliance with the court order to finalize Kapkea’s appointment.
Kapkea, who was serving as the Tembelio MCA was nominated to the position that was left vacant following the resignation of then-Deputy Governor Eng John Barorot.
He has since been vetted and approved by the Uasin Gishu County Assembly.
Evans Kapkea Approved as the New Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor
