Meru Governor Mutuma nominates Linturi’s ex-running mate as his deputy

Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia nominated lawyer Linda Kiome to serve as his deputy.

Kiome, who currently serves in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel, now awaits vetting and approval by the Meru County Assembly.

In January, President William Ruto appointed her to be the panel’s vice-chairperson, deputizing Nelson Makanda.

She was also picked as former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi’s running mate in the 2022 August election for the Meru gubernatorial seat.

At the time, she recognised her selection as a recognition of the role women play in the political space.

Kiome served as acting president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) when Nelson Havi was ousted in January 2022.

She previously held the chairperson position of the LSK Mt. Kenya caucus and also served as a board member of Meru National Polytechnic and Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Her nomination comes four days after Mutuma was sworn in as the new Governor following the dramatic imoeachment of his former boss, Kawira Mwangaza.

Mwangaza has, however, vowed to explore legal options after the High Court upheld her impeachment. She claimed that she was ousted by political leaders who refused to accept women in leadership.

“My impeachment was not a reflection of my performance or integrity but a calculated move by male chauvinists, political competitors, and for political expediency, a complicit National Government willing to silence a woman who dared to lead,” she said in a post on Facebook.

She added that her impeachment was not a reflection of the people’s will but a calculated move made by her competitors who liaised with the National Government to guarantee her exit.

Mwangaza vowed to challenge her impeachment in the highest court to clear her name.

“Today, I, break my silence to address the grave injustices I have faced as a woman leader in a deeply patriarchal society,” she said.

“My impeachment was not a reflection of my performance or integrity but a calculated move by male chauvinists, political competitors, and for political expediency, a complicit National Government willing to silence a woman who dared to lead.”

Terming her removal as a grave injustice perpetrated by a parochial system, Mwangaza also declared a political onslaught against her detractors.

In a veiled attack on the Judiciary and President William Ruto, she cited ‘a complicit national government’, male chauvinists, and political competitors for her downfall.

She also called on her supporters to hold all leaders accountable and demand transparency in governance.

Since assuming office after edging out political bigwigs in the August 2022 elections, Mwangaza has been in squabbles with the Meru County Assembly which expressed dissatisfaction with her leadership style.

The MCAs attempted to impeach her on three consecutive bids, with the former governor appealing each attempt to secure her stay in office.

Zipporah Kinya, the mover of the motion that sent her home, is a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominated MCA.