[The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen. He has committed himself to ensure the County Government Act bill is amended. Photo/Kenya Today]
The County Government Act bill will be amended to allow a governor to appoint a deputy governor in the likely eventuality that a deputy governor dies in office or resigns.
This is according to Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen who has committed himself to the table and push the bill in parliament.
Speaking to a local media on yesterday (Monday), Murkomen said that the bill, which he believes will pass, will authorize governors to appoint deputies after resignation and death of deputies while in office.
“There is a gap in the law and the constitution itself and so what the Bill intends to achieve is to fill that gap. The Bill will ensure that Governors get to appoint their deputies and send their names to their respective County Assemblies within 14 days for approval,” said Murkomen.
Parliamentarians are currently on break until the 13th of February when they will resume their sitings.
Mr. Murkomen has decision was informed by the recent resignation Nairobi County Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe who threw in the towel saying, “I have failed to earn the governor’s trust to enable him to run managerial roles of the county”.
“I regret I have failed to earn the trust of the Governor to enable me to drive Admin & Management of the county. Without fear, favor or ill will I step down to avoid abusing or betraying my oath of office to Kenyans, Nairobians and my family. Thank you for the encouraging support given to me so far,” he said in a post on his Twitter account.
As of now, the constitution does not provide guidelines through which a governor should fill the office of his deputy in case he resigns or dies while still in office.