Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Jiir has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Council of Governors (COG), succeeding Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru who has completed her two terms at the helm.
Governor Abdullahi previously served as the COG chair. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has been elected as the new COG Vice Chair.
The election, held at the Safari Park Hotel, saw Governor Abdullahi emerge as the winner in a competitive race that included Muthomi Njuki, Joseph Ole Lenku, Johnson Sakaja, and Mutahi Kahiga.
Who is Governor Abdullahi?
Governor has extensive experience in commerce, with a focus on auditing and finance. He is a Fellowship Certified Public Accountant (FCPA), the highest rank among CPAs.
Governor Abdullahi is the current Wajir Governor and is serving his second and final term, having been elected as Governor in 2013.
During his first term, he is credited with initiating major development projects in the North Eastern country, including Wajir’s first-ever tarmac road, irrigation projects, hospitals, and ECD centers.
In 2017, Governor Abdullahi lost his re-election bid to Jubilee Party’s Mohamed Abdi Mohamud. He, however, made a strong comeback in the 2022 General Election when we won the Wajir Gubernatorial seat under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.
At one point, Governor Abdullahi was ranked as the best performing Governor by the World Bank. He was also awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya
His vision for COG
Building on his previous experience as the COG Vice Chair, Governor Abdullahi’s tenure at the COG helm is expected to be marked by continuity and progress.
He takes over at a time when Governors are focused on several national reforms, including the recently rolled out Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that is expected to provide universal healthcare coverage across the country.
Speaking after his election, Abdullahi promised to represent the interests of all 47 counties and ensure that devolution continues to bring development to every corner of the country.
“I am honored to take on this responsibility, and I look forward to working with my fellow governors to continue the transformative work we’ve started,” he said
Previous COG chairpersons
Governor Abdullahi joins a list of other governors who have led the COG, including Isaac Ruto (2013-2015), Peter Munya (2015-2017), Josphat Nanok (2017-2019), Wycliffe Oparanya (2019-2021), Martin Wambora (2021-2022), and Anne Waiguru (2022-2024).
Abdullahi will serve for two years alongside his Vice Chair Governor Kahiga, and they are expected to address county-level concerns and national policy matters affecting devolution.