Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has finally responded to his Kwale counterpart Salim Mvurya's concerns over his (Oparanya) recent election as the Council of Governors Chair.
Oparanya was earlier in the week elected by fellow county chiefs to lead the council, an election Mvurya has rejected, claiming that the post belongs to him.
He said that there was a gentleman's agreement that he would automatically take over from immediate Chair and Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok who came to power in 2017.
However, responding to the claims on Thursday, Oparanya wondered how the latter expected such a position yet he never contested for the same.
He poked holes into Mvurya's claims that Nanok was only to lead for 6 months before handing over, wondering why he remained silent and Nanok lead for a year.
“If my friend was interested in the position, I never saw his form nor did I see his name on the ballot paper. And by any chance if he was promised the seat after six months, it is one year now. Why didn't he complain?" he told the Standard.
On his side, Mvurya said that he never contested the seat in protest after the council decided to throw out and dishonour the initial succession plan.
"I did not participate in the election because I was not happy with how the CoG treated the succession process," said the Jubilee Governor.
Oparanya who doubles up as the opposition's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy leader maintains that he was democratically and legally elected.
He will be deputized by his Muranga counterpart Mwangi Wa Iria.