Kiambu Governor, Ferdinand Waititu, has been dragged to court again by a Kiambu resident seeking to have his deputy, James Nyoro, granted executive powers to run the county in the absence of the embattled governor.
According to The Standard on Tuesday, September 24, James Gicheru, filed a petition at the High Court listing Attorney General Kihara Kariuki as the respondent and Waititu as an interested party.
In the petition, Gicheru argued that a powerless Nyoro would not be held liable for management of county resources and would not make appropriate decisions in the county.
Nyoro has been facing several challenges since temporarily taking charge of Kiambu due to power struggles between him and Waititu.
Daily Nation on Monday, September 23, reported that Nyoro withdrew the official cars of two county executives and reassigned their drivers in a move to get them to toe the line.
The publication further alleged that Nyoro defended his move, stating that the two executives were moles planted by Waititu to throw his agenda for the county off the rail.
Gicheru's petition follows another one hatched by a Kiambu voter who wants Nyoro stopped from assuming executive powers in the absence of the suspended Waititu.
Bernard Mburu, in his application filed at the High Court, accused Nyoro of manipulation and capitalising on Waititu’s misfortune to empower himself with executive powers he does not have.
A court order in July 2019 barred Waititu from accessing the office, leading to the installation of Nyoro in an acting capacity.
That was the start of a struggle between Waititu, who is aggressively seeking his return to office and Nyoro who is attempting to stamp his authority in the slippery gubernatorial seat.
