Deputy President-elect, Rigathi Gachagua is among over 4,000 guests expected to grace tomorrow’s swearing in ceremony of Mutahi Kahiga as the fifth governor of Nyeri.
The ceremony will take place at Nyeri’s new bus park, located at Nyeri’s Asian Quarters.
According to the Assumption of Office of Governor Committee, guests and members of the public are expected to be seated by 9am while the official swearing in is set to kick off at 10am and will be presided over by Justice James Wakiaga of the Murang’a High Court.
After inspecting ongoing preparations, Benjamin Gachichio (chairman of the assumption of office Committee) addressed the press at Sh600 million’s ultra-modern buspark. Gachichio stated that the committee will dispatch more than 40 buses to ferry people from all 30 wards of the county.
“The good thing is that it is an easy thing for us in Nyeri because it is a continuity but all the same, it is a legal process that must be done. All arrangements have been made, we have invited representatives from all parts of the county to ensure that the county is well represented .We have hired buses to transport them and take them back,” said Gachichio.
“We have officially invited 4,000 people although it is a public event so more people might come. Basically when we invite people officially we expect to definitely spend money on transport, maybe feed the people or, maybe give them a token for lunch,” he added.
The Chairman of the Committee was flanked by Mohammed Barre, Nyeri County Commissioner and Gabriel Steve Oloo, County Police Commander. They assured guests who were planning to attend the ceremony that security would be tightened up.
“The issue of security arrangement has been taken care of. This is a joint programme, there is no team that is not involved in from the national government; the Judiciary, police, the county commissioner and Ministry of Devolution are here to guide us,” added Gachichio.
Nyeri Governor-elect Mutahi Kaiga retained his gubernatorial seat after he received 213,373 votes during the August 9, General Election.
Kahiga, who ran on a UDA ticket, beat Dr Thuo Mathenge of the NDP by more than 100,000 votes to secure his second term. Mathenge, a businessman who is fondly referred to as ‘Wanguku’, garnered 81,467 votes.
Mutahi Kahiga will serve his second term as Nyeri’s fifth governor after he is sworn in. He was sworn in as Nyeri’s fourth governor in November 2017 following the death of Governor Wahome Gakuru who died through a road accident after serving for barely three months in office. Kahiga was Gakuru’s deputy.
Kahiga was deputized in his first term by Dr Caroline Karaugu, but they split in 2019. Kahiga elected David Kinaniri, Mukurwe ini politician, as his deputy for his second term.
By Wangari Mwangi and Samuel Maina
Source: kenyanews
