Deputy governors elect Laikipia's John Mwaniki chairman

The Deputy Governors Forum has elected new leaders and resolved to exploit its members’ potential to improve devolution.

Laikipia Deputy Governor John Mwaniki is the new chairman of the outfit.

After the first phase of devolution that was marred with tussles with their bosses, the deputy governors now want to be assigned roles in the management of counties.

Mr Mwaniki said deputy governors want to oversee the implementation of projects as outlined in the manifestos they launched with governors.

They also want to be involved in the coordination of departmental functions and staff evaluation.

Proposals have already been made to amend the County Government Act so that deputy governors are assigned particular roles.

JUDGED HARSHLY

“Governors need to utilise their deputies because either will be judged harshly by voters should they become impediments to services. We have resolved to avoid confrontation and make devolution a success,” he told the Nation.

A bill was tabled in the last Senate that sought to amend the law so that deputy governors would co-ordinate functions of executive committee members. Governors would also be required to consult them before making decisions.

Apart from proposing the formation of the council of deputy governors, the Intergovernmental Relations Bill, seeks the creation of a council of county assemblies.

“The Deputy Governors Council will not undermine the Council of Governors. Our main agenda will be to ensure the caucus maintains a harmonious relation with governors,” Mr Mwaniki said.

Were a governor to resign, be impeached or die, his or her deputy takes over for the remainder of the term.

AMBITION

Deputy President William Ruto recently said a deputy governor is a critical component of any successful devolved executive and asked county bosses to keep them engaged.

“Supporting your governor is not a weakness. You have to balance between your ambition and serving your boss,” Mr Ruto said at the Devolution Conference in Kakamega last month.

Mr Thomas Tödtling, the project director of Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which monitors devolution in Kenya, says there is a feeling that deputy governors should be seen and not be heard.

 “To the contrary, they are assets to governors,” he said.

Cases of deputy governors not seeing eye-to-eye with their bosses over lack of responsibilities triggered tussles between them in between 2013 and in the run-up to last year’s General Election.

BYSTANDERS

They accused governors of reducing them to bystanders in the running of county affairs. In fact, some took on their bosses in the election but lost.

The latest scuffle was on January 12 when Nairobi Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe resigned, citing failure to earn his boss’ trust.

Some of the best known power wars were between Machakos Governor Alfred  Mutua and his  deputy  Barnard Kiala, Mr Jack Ranguma and Ms Ruth Odinga (Kisumu), Mr John Nyagarama and Mr Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira) and Mr Hassan Joho and Ms Hazel Katana (Mombasa).

Governors serving a second term with different deputies are Mr Joho, Dr Mutua, Mr Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a), Mr Ali Roba (Mandera) and Mr Martin Wambora (Embu).