Elected governors in the just concluded elections will be sworn in on Thursday in accordance with the 2012 Assumption of the Office of Governor Act.
According to the Act, governors-elect must be sworn in on the first Thursday after the tenth day of the declaration of results by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Under the legislation, the elected governor must be sworn in before a High Court judge during a public ceremony.
To preside over the swearing-in of the newly elected county leaders, the Judiciary has nominated 47 judges.
The governors will take an oath or affirmation no sooner than 10:00 am and not later than 2:00 pm.
A special transition committee will be established under the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act 2019 to lead the handover of power in the counties.
The Assumption of the Office of Governor Committee is established under the Act, and it consists of 13 members from each of the 47 counties.
The relevant County Commissioner, a representative of the National Police Service, a representative of the National Intelligence Service, and the County Secretary are all members of the committee.
The date, time, and location of the swearing-in event must be made public by the Assumption of the Office of County Governor Committee by publication in the Kenya Gazette and the County Gazette.
According to the Act, the Assumption of the Office of Governor Committee must make all required arrangements in coordination with the governor-elect in order for them to take office.
The statute permits the governor-elect to ask a county public official for whatever information they think essential in writing.
A county public official is required by the Act to respond to the request of the governor- elect for information in a timely manner.
Officials who disobey the governor- elect are guilty of an offense, punishable by a fine of up to Sh300,000, up to one year in prison, or both, depending on the circumstances.
The governor-elect and his or her deputy will take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation of office as required under the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act 2019’s First Schedule section at the swearing-in ceremony.
In the presence of the High Court Judge who conducts the swearing-in ceremony, the governor must sign a certificate of the inauguration after taking or submitting to the oath or affirmation.