Governors and transition team start search for offices

Governors-elect are working with the transition authority to get offices for the new teams and prepare for their swearing-in.

Transitional Authority chairman Kinuthia wa Mwangi on Thursday said his office was coordinating the activities of the committees identifying offices to be occupied by the newly elected officials.

However, no date has been set for the swearing in of the governors as well as county ward representatives even as consultations are going on between the authority and other government departments.

“Right now we have no definite dates, but consultations are ongoing and an announcement will be made soon,” Mr Mwangi said.

He said he met with Nairobi governor-elect Evans Kidero on Thursday and secured two offices at the annex of the Prime Minister’s office in Nairobi.

"Dr Kidero would occupy the offices temporarily as a permanent office is sought", he said.

Plans were also at an advanced stage to ensure all governors, who will control devolved funds at counties, get security and transport.

The authority also plans to induct the State officers on their swearing-in ceremonies and how to conduct themselves in office.

Judges and magistrates who will swear them in are on stand-by.

"Identifying offices for governors, county assemblies as well as residences for county chief executives has been an arduous task for the authority," Mr Mwangi said.

This is because urban centres and towns set to house the devolved governments have poor infrastructure.

It is up to committees headed by county secretaries and commissioners, and coordinated by the transition authority, to ensure the incoming county officials find offices.

The Treasury has set aside Sh6 billion for the salaries of county State officers, some of whom have been seconded from the central government.

The money will also be used to set up transitional structures before Parliament budgets for the devolved units.