President Uhuru Kenyatta shaking hands with former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto as incoming Governor Joyce Laboso (left) looks on in this picture taken on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. [Photo: PSCU]Three governors who beat the greatest odds to win their seats were on Tuesday sworn into office in the presence of the leadership of their respective political parties.Governor Joyce Laboso (Bomet) and her Kirinyaga counterpart Anne Waiguru took the oath of office in front of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto respectively as Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho was sworn into office for the second term with Nasa leaders Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi in attendance.President Kenyatta attended Governor Laboso’s ceremony in Bomet to demonstrate the importance of the seat to the Jubilee Party, according to the Nation. Kenyatta led several campaign rallies in the region, urging residents to send home one of their fiercest critics, former Governor Isaac Ruto.The urge to send Ruto home was sweetened by the fact that he was one of the Nasa co-principals and the opposition’s point man in the Rift Valley. His wings, therefore, had to be clipped.Had he won the contest, Ruto would have become a major force, challenging Deputy President William Ruto’s status in the Rift Valley.In Mombasa, the presence of Odinga and Mudavadi at Governor Joho’s swearing-in ceremony spoke volumes.It should be noted that of all the swearing-in ceremonies of governors allied to Nasa, it is only Governor Joho’s inauguration that Odinga attended, a fact he stated at the event.This signified the importance of the ODM deputy party leader not only to Odinga, but the opposition as well, where he is considered a key financier.Governor Joho’s election victory is also significant considering the obstacles placed by the State in the run up to the polls including, among others, queries surrounding his academic documents.

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