Fernandes Barasa sworn in as Kakamega governor
Fernandes Barasa has been sworn in as the second governor of Kakamega county taking over the reins of power from outgoing governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
The new county boss took the oath of office today before signing certificates of the oath of office in a ceremony held at Bukhungu stadium.
His deputy, Ayub Savula, thereafter took the oath of office with Oparanya present to hand over power to his successor.
Barasa won the race in the August 29 mini-elections under an ODM Party ticket with 192,929 votes, beating Cleophas Malala of ANC who got 159,508.
The swearing-in of the two leaders comes in the backdrop of Savula causing a stir this week when he said he shares power equally with his boss.
According to Savula, the Kakamega county government has been divided into two parts: he will lead one half, while Barasa will lead the other.
He, therefore, stated that he should not be referred to as a deputy governor but as a co-governor.
“Don’t let anyone lie to you that Savula returned to deputy ship, we have divided the county government and the government of Kakamega into two. Barasa has taken half and Savula has taken half,” he said in a tweet on Monday morning.
He would then retract his statement saying he was misquoted in an old video, and that the constitution has no provision for co-governor.
Savula has also been at loggerheads with the Azimio One Kenya coalition leadership after saying he was coerced to support Raila Odinga in the run-up to the presidential elections.
