President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday signed into law a bill that will require county governors who lose elections to be present for the inauguration of their victorious counterparts.
The new bill, titled Ascension to Power of County Governors, was tabled before the Senate last year by Kiambu senator, Kimani Wamatangi.
The Bill provides the procedure and ceremony for the assumption of the office of the Governor by a governor-elect.
Previously, there was no legal framework governing the assumption of the office of the Governor.
Handover ceremonies were usually a political affair with no real guidance.
The law also states that the governor-elect and his deputy shall take oaths not earlier than 10:00 AM and not later than 2:00 PM.
The governor who lost the election is also required to hand over to the governor-elect county symbols of authority. These are the county flag; the Constitution and the county public seal.
The handover ceremony will not happen if an incumbent governor is re-elected or the outgoing governor cannot make it to the ceremony.
A good example is the case of Nyeri County, where the former governor passed away in the office.
