County Assembly Rejects Nomination of Deputy Governor

Members of County Assembly (MCA) in Lamu rejected the nomination of deputy governor, James Gichu on Wednesday October 3o. This is after the motion failed to get a simple majority in House vote. The county assembly with ten elected MCAs outrightly rejected the nomination meaning Governor Timamy will have to make a new appointment. The […]

Sharon Koech Sharon Koech
Oct 31, 2024 - 13:47
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County Assembly Rejects Nomination of Deputy Governor

Members of County Assembly (MCA) in Lamu rejected the nomination of deputy governor, James Gichu on Wednesday October 3o.

This is after the motion failed to get a simple majority in House vote.

The county assembly with ten elected MCAs outrightly rejected the nomination meaning Governor Timamy will have to make a new appointment.

The law stipulates that the assembly must cast a majority vote for any deputy governor appointment before the appointee can take office.

Governor Issa Timamy appointed James Gichu in October 16 as his new deputy following the death of Raphael Munyua Ndung’u in September.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy (left) his new Deputy Governor nominee James Gichu (centre) and New County Executive for ICT, E-Government, and Citizen Participation, Aisha Omar Shariff
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy (left) his new Deputy Governor nominee James Gichu (centre) and New County Executive for ICT, E-Government, and Citizen Participation, Aisha Omar Shariff. Photo/ COunty Govt of Lamu

Lamu Governor Appoints James Gichu as DG

Munyua, 46, died on September 6, 2024, while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital, where he had been admitted with a severe headache.

Gichu was the Lamu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Irrigation, and Food Security since his inauguration on December 13, 2022.

Also Read: Injured County Official Hides in Governor’s Office After Scuffle with Police

While appointing Gichu Governor Timamy congratulated him adding that it was a well-thought-out decision that included a lot of considerations.

“After careful considerations and consultations with key stakeholders in our government and the community at large the ideal person to take over the office of the Deputy Governor is my Agriculture CECM Hon. Jimmy Gichu,” Timamy said.

What the Law Says on Filling Vacant Position of Deputy Governor

In 2018, the former Chief Justice David Maraga, his then deputy Philomena Mwilu, Justices Mohamed Ibrahim, Jackton Ojwang’, Njoki Ndung’u, Smokin Wanjala and Isaac Lenaola declared that the vacant position of a Deputy governor cannot be filled through another election.

They also ruled that there must be no vacancy in the Deputy Governor’s office until the next General Election.

Additionally, they directed that governors have 14 days to nominate replacements for deputies who resign, pass away, or are impeached.

Also Read: Senior Govt Official Receives Apology After Being Sent to Prison

County Assemblies must then approve the nominees within 60 days, after which successful appointees will take the oath of office.

The judges ruled that if both the governor and deputy governor positions become vacant simultaneously, the deputy’s office must remain unfilled until a new governor is elected.

This decision followed a legal challenge after Paul Igathe resigned as Nairobi Deputy governor and the then Governor Mike Sonko’s refusal to appoint a new deputy.

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Lamu County Governor Issa Timamy.
Lamu County Governor Issa Timamy. pHOTO/ NMG