Tharaka Nithi Governor, Onesmus Muthomi Njuki, has been appointed as the new Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG).
This follows Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga's resignation from the post on October 22, after he made insensitive remarks about the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Njuki had been serving as the council's Chief Whip since October 6, a position just below the Vice Chair. He previously chaired the CoG Health Committee.
According to a source who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi has taken over the position of CoG Chief Whip.
Kahiga's resignation came just days after the reshuffle of the October 6, in which he and Wajir's Ahmed Abdullahi retained their seats as Vice Chair and Chair respectively.
In the October appointments, Njuki was moved to the Chief Whip position, replacing Nandi's Stephen Sang, who had served in the position for three years. Sang was moved to chair the Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Committee.
Days later, Kahiga lost his leadership position in the council after he was filmed seemingly celebrating Raila's demise.
In the video, Kahiga was speaking to residents of a village in his county in Kikuyu, telling them that Raila's passing would force the Kenya Kwanza administration to re-examine its priorities and redirect resources from other regions to the Mount Kenya region.
A day later, Kahiga apologised to the nation, amid a public uproar, but insisted that his words were taken out of context and he meant that under the current broad-based government, Raila's passing was likely to send everyone back to the drawing board.
He also resigned from his position at CoG, saying, "In noting the huge public interest that this issue has generated, I am taking responsibility for the real and perceived meaning of my remarks and as a result, therefore, I have decided that with immediate effect to step down as the Vice Chair of the Council of Governors."
Following the leaked video, the CoG convened an emergency meeting to decide a fitting punishment and resorted to remove him from the position, as well.
“The Council has resolved to remove Governor Mutahi Kahiga, having passed a vote of no confidence against him, and hereby removes him as the Vice Chair of the Council," read a statement after the meeting.
"We will convene another meeting in due time to discuss further disciplinary action against him."
