Vetting of Meru deputy governor nominee Lindah Kiome postponed
Lawyer Lindah Gakii Kiome, who has been nominated for the position of Meru deputy governor.
The vetting of Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma's nominee for deputy governor has been postponed after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) failed to give its approval.
Ms Lindah Gakii Kiome was due to be vetted on Monday morning, but Meru County Assembly Speaker Ayub Bundi announced that the appointments committee could not proceed as planned.
Addressing journalists at the assembly, Mr Bundi said IEBC clearance was a mandatory requirement for a deputy governor nominee.
"The committee could not proceed with the vetting as planned. We are now awaiting court directions on Tuesday," Mr Bundi said.
Speaking to Nation.Africa, Ms Gakii said IEBC staff had advised her to seek court guidance as there was no commission to clear those seeking elective seats.
Ms Gakii was a member and vice chairperson of the IEBC Commissioners selection panel, which is yet to conclude its work.
"I went to the IEBC and they informed me that I could not get the clearance certificate. I went to court for directions and the matter has been set for determination on Tuesday," Ms Gakii said.
She said that while there was jurisprudence in the case of the current deputy governor of Kisii, the court had decided that each matter must be heard on its own merits.
Following the impeachment of former Kisii deputy governor Robert Monda last year, Governor Simba Arati appointed Elijah Obebo, but he could not be sworn in until the High Court ordered the IEBC to appoint a returning officer to approve the candidate.
The returning officer's role is to receive nomination papers, verify whether the nominee meets the required threshold and issue a certificate of nomination.
Prior to the court case, IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein Marjan had indicated that he could not gazette a returning officer for Kisii County because it was the mandate of the Commission's Chairman.
He advised the county to seek judicial intervention and obtain a court order requiring the commission secretary to assume the role of IEBC chairman before the new DG, Mr Elijah Obebo, was sworn in.
Governor Mutuma submitted the name to the county assembly last week, paving the way for her vetting.
The County Governments (Amendment) Act 2020 requires a governor to nominate the deputy to the county assembly for approval within 14 days of the vacancy occurring.
The county assembly must also make its recommendation within 14 days, failing which the nominee is deemed approved.