Baringo MCAs reject Governor Cheboi's CS nominee

Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi appears before the Senate CPAC at Bunge Towers, Nairobi, on June 19, 2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The County Assembly of Baringo has rejected the appointment of the County Secretary as the acting County Executive Committee (CEC) nominee, terming it illegal and unconstitutional.

The MCAs passed an urgent motion quashing Governor Benjamin Cheboi's appointment of the CEC Devolution Peninah Bartuin as the acting CS, while picking Jacob Chepkwony to be the acting CEC Education.

The Assembly Adhoc Committee Report had recommended Chepkwony’s removal from office for gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office, incompetence, gross misconduct, and pointed out a conflict of interest.

Chepkwony went to court seeking orders to stop the implementation of the report.

On Wednesday, the Kabarnet High Court vacated conservatory orders against the county Assembly's recommendation on the removal of the CS for lack of merit.

Nominated MCA Jeruto Kiptalla moved the motion, terming the governor's re-organization of the CECs as unconstitutional with no legal effect.

 “The acting appointments are a blatant abuse of the law and a gross violation of the Constitution and the County Governments Act. The Governor has no power to assign any CEC without vetting and approval from the County Assembly as CEC,” she added.

The two offices, she stated, are legally distinct, with each other requiring county assembly approval.  

The governor’s appointment, the MCA said, amounted to deliberate circumvention of the constitutional vetting process and undermining public accountability, and setting a dangerous precedent for governance in the county.

Kiptalla said the county assembly has nullified the appointments of Chepkwony and Bartuin, indicating that they are not allowed to perform any function of the office.

She added that if the duo continues to discharge their duties, they will be held accountable.

“They shall be personally held liable for all the acts done and decisions made in contravention of the law, and appropriate sanctions shall be recommended to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) Commission and Public Service Commission for disciplinary and legal action. 

The Assembly further directed Cheboi to submit fresh nominations for the CS and CEC Education positions for vetting and approval.

“The Clerk of the County Assembly shall communicate this resolution forthwith to the Governor, the County Secretary, the Controller of Budget, the Auditor-General, and the EACC for their necessary action,” she added.

The change has affected Education, Transport, Lands, Water, Sports, and Devolution dockets.