Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu is set to return to the office, Sports and Youth CEC Karungo wa Thang'wa has said.
The youthful CEC said Waititu was 'returned' to the office by the Senate after it rejected a motion seeking to grant a deputy governor absolute powers to run the county in case the substantive governor is absent.
Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday threw out the motion on grounds it was unconstitutional. Following the ruling, Thang'wa said Waititu will take back his position which is currently been occupied by Deputy Governor James Nyoro.
"Kiambu Governor Babayao will today (Thursday) address the media after the SENATE returned him to the office through a LANDMARK RULING by the Speaker of the Senate. Senate’s ROLE is to protect the interests of the COUNTIES & their GOVERNMENTS." tweeted the former radio presenter.
Waititu was barred from accessing his office by the High Court due to a multi-million corruption case he, his wife and some other county employees are facing.
The motion, Exercise By The Deputy County Governors Of The Powers And Functions Vested In The Office Of The County Governor In The Absence Of The Substantive Holder Of The Office, which could have given Nyoro absolute powers as Kiambu boss was sponsored by Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina.
The Senator argued that deputy governors were facing many challenges when serving as acting governors and wanted them given powers to nominate, appoint and dismiss county staff.
“In exercising the powers and functions of the governor pursuant to the Constitution, deputy governors face a myriad of legal operational and administrative challenges,” Kina said.
“Other than the said limitations, no other restraints are placed in law on the exercise by the deputy governor of the powers and functions of the governor in their absence," he added.