This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On November 13, 2019, Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina introduced a motion to grant deputy governors absolute powers in case the substantive governor is absent.
The motion, which seeks to amend the County Governments Act, argues that deputy governors have had to serve as governors due to the absence of substantive county governors arising from ill health, incapacity, or court orders.
According to the motion, a governor and his deputy are elected on a joint ticket, and the Constitution states that a deputy governor shall act as governor in the absence of the county chief.
However, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei argued that the motion was not in line with the Constitution and County Governments Act and asked that it be withdrawn.
“It is like this motion is trying to amend the law through the backdoor,” Murkomen said.