Anne Waiguru elected Council of Governors chairperson

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru. [File, Standard]

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has been elected the Council of Governors (CoG) chairperson.

She becomes the first female governor to hold the seat.

Waiguru will be deputised by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi.

Lobbying, negotiations and finally consensus ensured that Waiguru, who won election on UDA ticket, becomes the new CoG chairperson.

The election was held on Saturday, September 17 in Mombasa County, where the county bosses had convened for induction.

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya-affiliated governors had a slightly higher representation in the council, but negotiations saw Waiguru of Kenya Kwanza being picked as the CoG chairperson over Kajiado's Joseph Ole Lenku, who had been fronted by Azimio.

Waiguru succeeds Martin Wambora of Embu County, who was ineligible for re-election in the August 9, 2022 General Election after completing his maximum two terms as governor.

The previous CoG chairpersons in Kenya's history are Bomet's Isaac Ruto (2013-2015), Meru's Peter Munya (2015-2017), Turkana's Josphat Nanok (2017-2019), Kakamega's Wycliffe Oparanya (2019-2021) and Embu's Martin Wambora (2021-2022).

Former Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya was elected CoG chairperson in December 2017, but did not serve his one-year term. At the time, Nanok was the CoG chief.

The new CoG chairperson, Anne Waiguru, is serving her second term as governor.