Uasin Gishu gets new Deputy Governor as Evans Kapkea sworn-in

Former Tembelio Ward MCA Evans Kapkea has been sworn-in as Uasin Gishu's new deputy governor, amid legal concerns about the absence of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), at the county headquarters in Eldoret.

He takes the office left vacant by John Barorot who resigned in August. Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii nominated Mr Kapkea shortly after Mr Barorot's resignation.

During his swearing-in by Justice Robert Wananda, Judiciary officials made it clear that his swearing-in was within the law, citing a ruling by Justice Reuben Nyakundi of Eldoret High Court who ordered IEBC and Governor Bii to gazette Kapkea as the new DG.

The county government had moved to court to compel IEBC to gazette Mr Kapkea following his nomination by Governor Bii and subsequent approval by the county assembly. 

Upon hearing the petition, the court declined to allow IEBC’s request to delay the execution of the ruling directing IEBC to gazette the deputy governor.

While delivering the decision on October 22, Justice Nyakundi directed IEBC to include the name of Mr Kapkea in the name of Kenya gazette notice as the newly nominated Deputy governor of Uasin Gishu County, effective from the date of his vetting by the county assembly.

The ruling by Justice Nyakundi Justified the move by Mr Bii to gazette Mr Kapkea as his deputy.

Before his elevation, he was the chairperson of the Trade, Industrialisation, Tourism and Investment Committee and a member of the Budget, Finance and Appropriation Committee.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Analytical Chemistry with Computing from the University of Eldoret and is currently pursuing an MSc in Analytical Chemistry at Moi University.

When Eng. Barorot resigned earlier this year, he said he had landed a lucrative job with an international company amid claims of frosty relations with his former boss.