Update: Ousted Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu had gone to court to stop his deputy from being sworn in following the gazettement of the ceremony.
However, the High Court declined to stop the process, citing that it was a judicial function..
A special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated January 30, announced that Nyoro would take the oath of office on Friday, January 31.
"It is notified for information of the general public that the swearing-in ceremony of James Karanja Nyoro, as the governor of Kiambu County, shall take place on Friday, 31st January 2020, at Kiambu County Headquarters, starting at 10.00 a.m.," read the notice by County Secretary Martin Mbugua.
Nyoro's assumption of office ceremony had been scheduled for Thursday, January 30, but the judge failed to show up.
High Court Judge John Oyiengo, who was scheduled to swear-in James Nyoro as the new governor issued a statement explaining why he was a no-show at the event.
In a statement, Oyiengo noted that the County Committee on Assumption of Governor's Office had not complied with a section of the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act, which requires publication and notification of the swearing-in ceremony in the Kenya Gazette and the County Gazette stating the time, date and place of swearing.
Nyoro will become the fourth deputy governor to ascend to power since the onset of devolution.
In 2017, Samuel Wamathai rose to power following the death of first Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua. However, most area MPs snubbed the Wamathai's swearing-in ceremony, with only then-Tetu MP Ndung'u Gethenji showing up.
Later that year, the county lost yet another governor, Wahome Gakuru, who beat the incumbent Wamathai. Gakuru's deputy, Mutahi Kahiga, took over after the latter was involved in an accident that claimed his life.
Kahiga was sworn in as the fourth governor of Nyeri County in a ceremony that was skipped by other county bosses.
Bomet's Hillary Barchok took the reins at the county after his predecessor Joyce Laboso succumbed to cancer in 2019.
