Meru Deputy Governor Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia is set to be sworn in as the new Meru Governor on Monday, March 17.
Through a special gazette notice, the Assumption of Office committee led by Martin Gitije revealed that Mutuma would be sworn in at Mwendantu Grounds.
“...it is notified for information of the general public that the swearing-in ceremony of Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia, as the Governor of Meru County, shall take place on Monday, March 17, 2025, at Mwendantu Grounds, starting at 8:30am,” the notice read in part.
As per law, a swearing-in ceremony is supposed to take place at an open public venue. Residents and stakeholders are expected to attend as the county ushers in new leadership.
The law stipulates that the oath or affirmation shall take place not earlier than 10am and not later than 2pm. The event should be presided over by a judge.
The latest move comes after a decision by the High Court on Friday, March 14, that upheld the decision by the Senate to impeach Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The incoming governor, who also doubles up as a reverend, was elected with Mwangaza in 2022 as her running mate. However, the tenure of Mutuma and his boss was marred by squabbles.
Their relationship deteriorated over time, marked by mutual accusations and public disputes. In September 2023, reports indicated that their differences had escalated, with the deputy governor alleging exclusion from key meetings and withdrawal of official resources.
Mwangaza, on the other hand, downplayed these issues, attributing them to minor disagreements and accusing Mutuma of collaborating with her political adversaries.
That aside, Mutuma, the son of a former chairman of both the Meru and Kenya Council of Elders, has served in various public service roles in state agencies and other institutions.
He served for 19 years in the Kenya Prisons Service, where he rose to the rank of Senior Sergeant and Social Welfare Officer. His roles extended beyond corrections; he has been a Child Rights Advocate with Plan International, a Youth Representative for Habitat for Humanity in the Mount Kenya Region, and has held leadership positions in several esteemed institutions.
Also, Rev Mutuma holds a Higher Diploma in Forensic Psychology and Criminology from the Kenya Institute of Studies in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Kenya Methodist University. Currently, he is pursuing a Master's Degree in Governance and Ethics at Mount Kenya University.
All factors being constant, Mutuma is expected to serve as Meru County boss for the remainder of his predecessor’s tenure. Once sworn in, he will become Meru’s fourth governor after Peter Munya, Kiraitu Murungi, and Kawira Mwangaza.
