Nairobi governor Mike Sonko at his inauguration at Uhuru Park on August 21, 2017. [Photo: nairobinews.nation.co.ke]There could be a looming legal battle between the outgoing governors and the incoming ones if what has been witnessed during the change of guard is anything to go by.Twelve out of 25 newly elected county bosses took the oath of office without officially receiving the instruments of power from their predecessors who are said to have deliberately snubbed the events.Samuel Wamathai (Nyeri), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Samuel Ragwa (Tharaka Nithi), Julius Malombe (Kitui) and Peter Munya (Meru) are among those who skipped the important county events, the Star reports.Others were Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Ukur Yatani (Marsabit), Godana Doyo (Isiolo), Issa Timamy (Lamu), Hussein Dado (Tana River) and Nathif Jama (Garissa).In Kitui, for instance, outgoing Senator David Musila criticised Malombe for skipping the swearing in of former Lands CS Charity Ngilu."I’m not amused to see county officers present the instruments of power to Ngilu. We expected the former governor to be here to do it. It is wrong. He should have climbed down and come here," he said.In Garissa, Jama disputed the results and said he would not hand over power to Ali Korane until he received the final tally of the results.In Meru, Munya’s former deputy Rachael Muriungi attended the ceremony of his own volition and handed the instruments of power to Kiraitu Murungi.Munya's running mate Peter Kaberia said they will file a petition in court to challenge Murungi’s victory.Governors who handed over office include Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Isaac Rutto (Bomet), Moses Akaranga (Vihiga), Joseph Ndathi (Kirinyaga), John Mruttu (Taita Taveta) and Ken Lusaka (Bungoma).

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