Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was on Monday, 2nd October 2023, unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) alongside Governor Ahmed Abdullahi of Wajir as the Vice Chairperson. Governors also retained Governor Stephen Sang of Nandi as the Chief Whip.
Elections for the CoG Executive and the Council Committee Chairpersons were conducted pursuant to Sections 19(2) and (3) of the Intergovernmental Relations Act (2012).
Hailed as a transformational and visionary leader, Governor Waiguru is the first woman to be elected as the Council Chairperson, having succeeded Martin Wambora, former Governor Embu County. Wambora was the fifth Council Chairperson having succeeded former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (2019-2021). Former Governor Isaac Ruto of Bomet (2013-2015), Meru's Peter Munya (2015-2017) and Turkana's Josphat Nanok (2017-2019) served as first, second and third chairpersons respectively.
Waiguru lauded county governors for a successful vote while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to lead the council.
“I would like to thank the Governors for having faith in my leadership and congratulate the entire executive and the respective technical committee chairs elected today,” she said while addressing the press after the Council meeting.
Waiguru further enumerated the milestones achieved by the Council during her tenure, particularly the timely disbursement of Counties’ equitable share of revenue, the first Biennial Devolution Conference in Uasin Gishu County and improved intergovernmental relations.
She highlighted key priority areas for the next year to include the full transfer of all devolved functions and subsequent resources to County Governments; increasing Counties’ revenue allocation and own source revenue; successful implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and agricultural value chains development.
“In the recent past, there have been attempts to claw back on devolution through enactment of legislation and creation of unconstitutional institutions to undertake devolved functions. I call upon all stakeholders to work together to safeguard devolution and effectively serve all Kenyans,” Waiguru added citing the recent gazettement of the additional Water Works Development Authority, the enactment of Community Groups Bill and passage of the Facility Improvement Funds Act.
The Council elections saw Nyeri’s Mutahi Kahiga take over leadership of the CoG Human Resource Committee from Nairobi’s Johnson Sakaja.
In other changes, Governor Susan Kihika of Nakuru and Baringo’s Benjamin Cheboi were elected the Trade, Industry, Manufacturing and Enterprise Development and Security and Foreign Affairs Committee chairs respectively. The remaining 15 Committee Chairpersons retained their seats.
The Council later appeared before the National Dialogue Committee to present its position on key issues affecting devolution. CoG proposed the funding and periodic costing of National and County functions; increase of the equitable share of revenue for the County Governments to 45%; establishment of a borrowing framework by the Counties; establishment of the National Treasury as an independent institution from the Ministry of Finance; representation of the County Governments in the National Security Council and establishment of County Security Councils; delimitation of boundaries for the Counties and; review of the threshold for impeachment of Governors.