Kenya: New dawn as governors take over county affairs

PHOTO | DIANA NGILA Nairobi governor-elect Evans Kidero leaves Nyayo House in Nairobi after a meeting with the Transition Authority officials on March 13.   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, March 26   2013 at  00:30

Preparations are almost complete for the ceremony to swear in Nairobi governor-elect Evans Kidero on Wednesday.By Monday evening, workers from the City’s Engineering Department were cleaning and repainting the dais at Uhuru Park, the venue of the historic ceremony.Police officers maintained security around the area to ensure workers finished up the job uninterrupted.On Tuesday, they are expected to prepare the sitting arrangement for invited guests.Mr Justice Mbogholi Msagha and magistrate Peter Mulwa will preside over the ceremony expected to start shortly after 10am, according to a schedule released by the Transition Authority.Transition Authority Chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi told Nation at the weekend that county officials would afterwards be expected to prepare for the next budget estimates due in June.At the same time, preparations for swearing in of Coast governor-elect Hassan Joho were in top gear on Monday as Coast residents waited for the historic event to usher in county governments.In Taita Taveta County, governor-elect John Mruttu, whose election was petitioned by Ms Jacinta Mwatela who lost in the March 4 poll, is set to be sworn in.Tents had been taken to Mwatunge Ground at Mwatate which will be the venue of tomorrow’s ceremony.County Commissioner Haroun Khator said security had been beefed up ahead of the exercise.In Kwale, County Commissioner Evans Achoki assured the public that arrangements to swear in Mr Salim Mgalla Mvurya would be complete by Tuesday.Mr Achoki chaired a meeting on Monday morning to make the final touches for the occasion to be held at the Kwale Baraza Park.Tana River County Commissioner Joseph Rotich said plans had been completed for the swearing in of governor-elect Hussein Tuneya Dado.In Mombasa, Town Clerk Tubman Otieno on Monday chaired a meeting of top leaders from the county to prepare for the swearing-in of Mr Ali Hassan Joho.Mr Joho will be sworn in at the Mkomani Agricultural Show Ground.Lamu County Commissioner Steve Ikua could not be reached on phone but sources said Mr Issa Timamy would be sworn in at the Mkunguni Square Ground on the Island.In Nakuru, interim transition coordinating team said they had made all necessary arrangements to ensure the swearing in of Mr Kinuthia Mbugua goes on smoothly.

Reported by Aggrey Mutambo, Daniel Nyassy and Simon Siele