Baringo MCAs reject Governor Cheboi's CS nominee
Rift Valley
By
Julius Chepkwony
| Oct 31, 2025
The County Assembly of Baringo has rejected the appointment of the County Secretary as the acting County Executive Committee (CEC) nominee, terming it illegal and unconstitutional.
The MCAs passed an urgent motion quashing Governor Benjamin Cheboi's appointment of the CEC Devolution Peninah Bartuin as the acting CS, while picking Jacob Chepkwony to be the acting CEC Education.
The Assembly Adhoc Committee Report had recommended Chepkwony’s removal from office for gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office, incompetence, gross misconduct, and pointed out a conflict of interest.
Chepkwony went to court seeking orders to stop the implementation of the report.
On Wednesday, the Kabarnet High Court vacated conservatory orders against the county Assembly's recommendation on the removal of the CS for lack of merit.
READ MORE
From rot to revenue: How farmers are redefining waste into wealth
Kenyans grapple with stagnation, decline in earnings
Regional units push Equity profit to Sh52.1b as Kenyan economy slows
Agriculture sector borrowing balloons to Sh167.7 billion
Naivas opens its 111th store at Magadi
Nissan says expects $1.8 bn operational loss in 2025-26
Cooking diplomacy on the menu as Kenya hosts first Africa-Chinese cuisine contest
Coffee nets Sh411 million at the auction signalling strong market demand
KEBS pushes new Standards Bill to crack down on unsafe goods
Kenya moves to cut building sector emissions as urbanisation surges
Nominated MCA Jeruto Kiptalla moved the motion, terming the governor's re-organization of the CECs as unconstitutional with no legal effect.
“The acting appointments are a blatant abuse of the law and a gross violation of the Constitution and the County Governments Act. The Governor has no power to assign any CEC without vetting and approval from the County Assembly as CEC,” she added.
The two offices, she stated, are legally distinct, with each other requiring county assembly approval.
The governor’s appointment, the MCA said, amounted to deliberate circumvention of the constitutional vetting process and undermining public accountability, and setting a dangerous precedent for governance in the county.
Kiptalla said the county assembly has nullified the appointments of Chepkwony and Bartuin, indicating that they are not allowed to perform any function of the office.
She added that if the duo continues to discharge their duties, they will be held accountable.
“They shall be personally held liable for all the acts done and decisions made in contravention of the law, and appropriate sanctions shall be recommended to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) Commission and Public Service Commission for disciplinary and legal action.
The Assembly further directed Cheboi to submit fresh nominations for the CS and CEC Education positions for vetting and approval.
“The Clerk of the County Assembly shall communicate this resolution forthwith to the Governor, the County Secretary, the Controller of Budget, the Auditor-General, and the EACC for their necessary action,” she added.
The change has affected Education, Transport, Lands, Water, Sports, and Devolution dockets.