A rare scene was witnessed on Monday after Kisii Governor James Ongwae was forced to take the oath of office twice in a span of 15 minutes.
Governor Ongwae, who was first sworn into office at 11.45 am by Lady Justice Grace Nzioka, was sworn in again at 12 pm after it was noted he had taken the oath without holding a bible.
''We have noted that Governor Ongwae forgot to hold the Bible while taking his oath of office, bearing in mind that he is a Christian, we are going to repeat that process again so that some people might not say that this exercise was not carried out properly,'' Kisii Chief Magistrate John Njoroge stated.
Taking the oath for the second time, Ongwae pledged to serve the people of Kisii to the best of his abilities in his second term in office and leave a lasting legacy as the first Governor in the County.
The ceremony held at the Gusii Stadium was witnessed by Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama, Kisii Senator-elect Professor Sam Ongeri, Kisii Woman Representative-elect Janet Ong'era and Kisii County Commissioner Samuel Njora.
Ongwae, who defended his seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket, got 203,639 votes against his closest competitor, Jubilee Party's Christopher Mogere Obure who got 109,618 votes.
Other governors sworn in on Monday include Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet), Dhadho Godhana (Tana River), Wilber Otichilo (Vihiga), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Okoth Obado (Migori), Sospeter Ojaamong, Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Charity Ngilu (Kitui) and Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua).
Former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, Kitui's outgoing Governor Julius Malombe and Daniel Waithaka of Nyandarua did not show up at the handover ceremonies held in their respective counties.
Read More: 3 Governors Surprisingly Snub Swearing-in Ceremonies of Their Successors
