Waiguru elected Council of Governors chair

Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru has been elected Chairperson of the Council of Governors.

She is the first female CoG chair and will replace former Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

She was elected on Saturday, after the Governors' and Deputy Governors' induction workshop in Mombasa.

She will be deputized by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi.

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang is the CoG Whip.

Waiguru was fronted by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance to compete against Azimio's Kajiado governor Joseph Ole Lenku.

Council of Governors Secretariat said Waiguru was selected through a consensus.

"I want to confirm the process of electing the national leadership of the Council of Governors was smooth. All governors agreed through a consensus on the new leadership," said CoG chief executive officer Mary Mwiti.

Waiguru previously served as the Council's first female vice chairperson from December 2017 to January 2019.

The three leaders were unveiled on Saturday afternoon in an event graced by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.

Wetangula is representing President William Ruto, who was expected to officially close the three-day Governors induction workshop in Mombasa.

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa will be the chair of the Finance Committee, and Bungoma's Kenneth Lusaka will be in charge of Agriculture.

Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime has been tasked to chair the Water Committte and Kisumu governor Anyang Nyongo will be in charge of Lands.

The CoG chairperson post was created by the Intergovernmental Relations Act 2012 to oversee the activities of governors.

Several leaders have taken to congratulate her, with Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire taking the lead.