Forty-five newly elected Governors are set to take the oath of office today (Thursday, August 24) setting the stage for them to form new county administrative units.
Only two counties, Kakamega and Mombasa, out of the 47 counties will not hold the inauguration ceremonies, this after the Governor elections were postponed in the two counties.
For the first time, the county bosses while taking an oath of office will also take an integrity oath.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has developed a code of integrity to be administered to all governors. This will see the anti-graft agency dispatch its officers across the country to witness the exercise.
The integrity code is meant to bind the leaders to uphold high standards of integrity and refrain from rampant corruption that has dogged county governments.
The Assumption of Office of Governor Act stipulates that “The County Governor-elect shall be sworn-in on the first Thursday after the tenth day following the declaration of the final results of the election of the County Governor by the Commission.”
The swearing-in of the County Governor-elect shall be conducted in a public ceremony before a High Court Judge.
The Assumption of Office of Governor Act further stipulates that the Governor-elect shall take oath of office and sign a certificate of inauguration not earlier than 10:00 am and not later than 2:00 pm.
Upon signing the certificate of inauguration, the outgoing County Governor shall hand over to the County Governor elect the county flag, county coat of arms, the Constitution and county public seal as a sign of transfer of executive power and authority. This, however, does not apply where; the outgoing governor is not present during the inauguration or the incumbent is re-elected into office.
Section 13(4) of the Assumption of Office of Governor Act however notes: “Failure by the outgoing County Governor to handover the instruments of power to the County Governor-elect shall not invalidate the assumption to the office of County Governor by the County Governor-elect.”
In the new look county governments structure, 11 governors have been re-elected to serve their second term, 26 counties have elected new county sheriffs while 8 governors are lucky to have found favour with the electorate to make a comeback after being kicked out in the last elections.