Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia has nominated lawyer Linda Kiome to serve as his deputy. Kiome, who currently serves on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel, now awaits vetting and approval by the Meru County Assembly.
In January, she was appointed as the panel’s vice-chairperson, deputizing Nelson Makanda. Her selection as deputy governor comes at a crucial time for Meru County, following the dramatic impeachment of former Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
Kiome is no stranger to the political landscape of Meru. She was the running mate of former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi in the 2022 Meru gubernatorial election. At the time, she acknowledged her nomination as a recognition of the important role women play in politics.
Beyond politics, she has had a distinguished career in law and governance. She served as acting president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in January 2022 after the removal of Nelson Havi. She previously held the position of chairperson for the LSK Mt. Kenya caucus and was also a board member of Meru National Polytechnic and Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Her nomination comes just four days after Governor Mutuma was sworn into office. His ascension to power followed the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza, a move that has been met with controversy. Mwangaza has vowed to challenge her impeachment in court, maintaining that her removal was not based on her performance or integrity but was instead a political maneuver.
She alleged that her ousting was orchestrated by political leaders unwilling to accept women in positions of leadership. According to her, male chauvinism and political expediency played a role in her removal, with the National Government complicit in silencing her leadership.
As the vetting process for Kiome begins, Meru County remains in a state of transition. The political shifts underscore the complex dynamics at play in local governance, with leadership changes shaping the future of the region.
