In February this year, Meru Deputy Governor Isaac Mutuma alleged a plan by allies of his boss Kawira Mwangaza to force him to resign.
Mutuma, who does not see eye to eye with Mwangaza, insisted then that he would not quit despite allegedly being promised hefty perks if he resigned.
“We are operating in a very hostile environment in Meru and as deputy governor, I have said time and again that things are escalating from bad to worse,” Mutuma said in February 2024.
The man who a few days ago had no voice in the running of Meru County Government is on the verge of becoming the fourth governor of the devolved unit.
The Constitution provides that in case a governor is removed from office, the deputy takes over for the remainder of the term.
Mwangaza’s removal from office by impeachment means that Mutuma could assume office should Mwangaza lose in court.
The embattled governor moved to court on Wednesday and obtained orders suspending the impeachment.
Mwangaza was removed from office after the Senate on Tuesday, August 20 night confirmed all three impeachment charges against her.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi is expected to gazette Mwangaza’s impeachment to roll out the timelines for the swearing-in of Mutuma.
Who is Mutuma
Mutuma was elected as Meru deputy governor in the 2022 polls alongside Mwangaza without being sponsored by any political party.
They cruised to victory, crushing political titans in Meru including then-Governor Kiraitu Murungi and his predecessor Peter Munya.
Before his election, Mutuma served as a senior officer in the Kenya Prisons Service and worked as a Reverend in the Methodist Churches of Kenya.
He holds a Higher Diploma in Forensic Psychology and Criminology from the Kenya Institute of Studies in Criminal Justice, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Kenya Methodist University.
Mutuma also holds a Master’s Degree in Governance and Ethics from Mount Kenya University.
The Meru deputy governor has previously served as a Child Rights Advocate with Plan International, a youth representative for Habitat for Humanity in the Mount Kenya Region, and a Human Rights Officer and Inmate Rehabilitation Programme Implementer within the prison services.
Mutuma to pick deputy after assuming office
If sworn into office, Mutuma will have to pick a deputy governor.
In 2018, the Supreme Court declared that the vacant position could not be filled through another election.
They also held that there cannot be a vacuum in the office of the Deputy Governor until the next General Election is held.
The Supreme Court then issued guidance on how to fill the deputy governor vacancy.
The judges ruled that governors will be allowed to do fresh nominations within 14 days to replace their deputies who resign, die in office or are impeached.
The nominees will then have to be approved by County Assemblies within 60 days.
Successful appointees then take the oath of office.
The judges ruled that where a vacancy occurs in both offices of the governor and deputy governor and at the same time, the deputy’s office ought to remain vacant until the election of a new governor.
Can a deputy governor who ascends to the office of governor serve two terms?
Over the last decade, or so, the country has seen a number of Deputy Governors ascend to the governor’s office.
They include Bomet’s Hillary Barchok who took over following the demise of Joyce Laboso.
In Kiambu, James Nyoro took over following the ousting of Ferdinand Waititu.
In Nairobi, Anne Kananu took over after Mike Sonko was impeached.
Article 146 (4) and Article 182 (3) of the Constitution provides for this:
At the time of taking office, if there are two and a half years or more remaining before the next General Election, such a person shall be deemed as having served a full term.
