The Council of Governors (CoG) retreated to Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi on Monday for the election of their new Chairperson following the end of the term of the current executive.
The second-time Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya was elected for a two-year term while Governor Mwangi wa Iria was elected as his Vice Chairman.
Oparanya who is also the ODM Deputy Party Leader was serving as a member of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee at the CoG.
Other governors battling it out were Ann Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Josphat Nanok (Turkana) who was seeking re-election.
The Kakamega County boss is also eyeing the presidency in 2022 and is among the close confidants of Raila Odinga in the western region.
Oparanya, who once served as Planning Minister in former President Mwai Kibaki’s regime, is the founding chairman of the Lake Region Economic Bloc which consists of the 14 counties in western Kenya.
It is the only regional bloc whose launch was presided over by the President.
Nanok took over the mantle from former Meru Governor Peter Munya and retained the seat in December 2017 when elections were called following the General Election.
In his first term, he caused controversy when he was involved in a public spat with President Uhuru Kenyatta over concerns about oil mining in Turkana County.
His predecessor Munya was appointed to the cabinet by President Kenyatta as the Cabinet Secretary for Trade.
Before him, former Bomet Governor Issac Ruto served as the council's first Chairman.
The following are the technical committee chairpersons.
1. Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma) - Finance, Planning, Economic Affairs and ICT.
2. James Ongwae (Kisii) - Human Resources, Labour and Social Welfare.
3. Paul Chepkwony (Kericho) - Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Services.
4. Joyce Laboso (Bomet) - Education.
5. Martin Wambora (Embu) - Trade, Investment, Manufacturing and Cooperatives.
6. Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo) - Health.
7. Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) - Agriculture.
8. Moses Lenolkulal (Samburu) - Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.
9. Amason Kingi (Kilifi) - Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Intergovernmental Relations, Security and Foreign Affairs.
10. Samuel Ole Tunai (Narok) - Tourism and Natural Resources.
11. Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru) - Urban Planning, Housing, Development, Land, Infrastructure and Energy.
