This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On November 13, 2019, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok made a surprise move by nominating county assembly Speaker Shadrack Rotich as his deputy.
Dr. Barchok forwarded Mr. Rotich's name to the county assembly for vetting and approval, filling a position that had been vacant since August 8, 2019, when the governor was sworn into office following the death of his predecessor, Joyce Laboso, on July 29, 2017.
Rotich, a former Deputy Secretary-General of the defunct Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya, had previously vied for the gubernatorial seat as an independent candidate in the 2013 gubernatorial race but lost to former Governor Isaac Ruto.
Alongside Rotich's nomination, Dr. Barchok also nominated Patrick Kiplangat Maritim as the County Executive for Administration, Emily Chelangat Seronei for the Gender, Youths, Sports and Social Services docket, and Alexander Ngeno for the position of Public Service Board chairperson.
