This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On July 9, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the County Government (Amendment) Bill 2017 into law, a move that will compel governors to nominate deputies in the event of a vacancy.
The bill, proposed by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, aims to address an oversight in the constitution and the County Governments Act 2012.
As per the new law, a governor will have 14 days to nominate a deputy and forward the name to the county assembly for approval or rejection within 60 days.
Should a governor die before taking the oath of office, the deputy governor will act for 60 days before a by-election is held.
The proposals in the bill have been heavily borrowed from the Constitution, including the way a vacancy in the Office of the Deputy President is replaced.
Since Polycarp Igathe's resignation as Deputy Governor in 2018, Governor Sonko has failed to settle on a nominee, citing pressure from senior government officials.
On January 6, 2020, Sonko nominated Ann Kananu Mwenda as his deputy, despite a court order barring him from conducting official county business while under trial for corruption-related charges.
However, the County Assembly of Nairobi was later barred from vetting the governor's nominees.
