Kakamega, Mombasa governors-elect to be sworn in on Thursday
Kakamega governor-elect Fernandes Barasa and his Mombasa counterpart Abdulswamad Nasir will be sworn in on Thursday.
The elections in the two counties were delayed following a mix-up in printing of ballot papers.
Barasa finds himself between the proverbial rock and a hard place as he seeks to steer his agenda while at the same time trying not to disrupt the foundation of his predecessor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Water reservoir
The governor-elect and his deputy Ayub Savula will take the oath at Bukhungu Stadium.
Most of the projects initiated by Oparanya are yet to be completed. They include the Madala Tea Factory in Shinyalu, a maize-milling plant in Lugari and Gold refinery in Ikolomani. A massive water reservoir being erected at Lirhanda in Shinyalu at a cost of Sh 87 million is also incomplete. So is the ‘One-Cow-Initiative’ that was meant to promote dairy farming in the county.
In Mombasa, preparations for the swearing of Nassir (pictured) have begun in earnest.
Pending bills
Preparations for the ceremony have been ongoing at the Mama Ngina Waterfront with county askaris rehearsing for the day.
From dealing with pending bills worth over Sh4 billion, enhancing service delivery and forming his executive team, Nassir will have his hands full. He will also be required to align some of his development plans with those of the national government since the county hosts key national assets such as the Mombasa port. The port featured prominently during his campaigns as he pledged to return services that were taken to inland container depots in Nairobi and Naivasha.
