What next for Nyeri County after sudden death of governor?

- Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru passed away on Tuesday, November 7, following a freak accident

 - He was the second governor to die in office in the county

 - Gakuru won the gubernatorial seat during the August 8 election Nyeri Deputy Governor Mutahi Kahiga is poised to take over the leadership of the region following the death of his boss in a freak accident on the morning of Tuesday, November 7. 

County Governments Act 2012 says that if a governor dies, the deputy takes over as the county boss for the remainder of the term. But if Kahiga is found to be unfit or refuses to take over, the law provides that the Speaker of the County shall act as governor.

After 60 days when the Speaker takes over, a new election should be held for the residents to elect a new governor. And according to the Constitution (Devolved Governments), at Chapter 11, Article 179, if a vacancy arises in the office of the county governor, the members of the county executive committee cease to hold office. The law is however silent on how long it should take to swear in the deputy governor as the new county boss.

The country woke up to the sad news of the passing on of Governor Wahome Gakuru, the third Nyeri Governor and the second to die in office. Early this year, the first governor Nderitu Gachagua passed on and his deputy Samuel Wamathai was sworn in before the August 8 general election.