Munya takes over the leadership of the council after he was endorsed by his fellow Governors after the expiration of the term of the current leadership/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21 – Meru County Governor Peter Munya is the new chairman of the Council of Governors, replacing Bomet’s Isaac Ruto who was not eligible to run after serving two terms. Munya takes over the leadership of the council after he was endorsed by his fellow Governors after the expiration of the term of the current leadership.
Kwale’s Salim Mvurya who had initially expressed interest in the top post opted out and retained his vice chairman’s seat while Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani was endorsed as the council’s secretary.
The elections come a time when the Governors are intensifying their push for the ‘Pesa Mashinani’ referendum which is rumoured to be set to merge with the Opposition’s Okoa Kenya movement.
The council provides a forum for consultation amongst county governments; sharing of information on the performance of the counties in the execution of their functions with the objective of learning and promotion of best practice and where necessary, initiating preventive or corrective action; dispute resolution between counties.
The council involving the 47 county heads also has the mandate of considering matters of common interest to county governments, facilitating capacity building for governors and receiving reports and monitoring the implementation of inter-county agreements on inter-county projects.
It also considers matters referred to the council by a member of the public; consideration of reports from other intergovernmental forums on matters affecting national and county interests or relating to the performance of counties.