Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Retains as the Council of Governors Chairmanship
Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi makes his acceptance remarks following his re-election during the full council meeting held at Delta Centre, Nairobi, October 6, 2025
Nairobi, Monday, October 6, 2025 -Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has secured another term as the Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) following a unanimous endorsement by his peers during a full council meeting held at Delta Centre, Nairobi.
His re-election signals a vote of confidence in his leadership and marks a continuation of the council’s current reform agenda. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga retained his position as Vice Chairperson, while Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki was appointed Council Whip, succeeding Nandi’s Stephen Sang.
In his acceptance address, Governor Abdullahi expressed appreciation for the renewed mandate, terming it “a humbling recognition of teamwork and trust among county leaders.”
“Our renewed leadership will remain steadfast in deepening the gains of devolution, strengthening county governance, and enhancing coordination between the two levels of government,” he affirmed.
He outlined several priorities for his new term, including operationalizing the Devolution Training Institute, implementing the CoG Strategic Plan (2022–2027), completing the transfer and costing of devolved functions, and expanding membership of the Ugatuzi Sacco to benefit county employees.
Touching on procurement reforms, Abdullahi said the council would continue embracing flexibility between electronic and manual systems in line with a recent court decision.
“The ruling was clear counties have discretion to adopt either system as long as procurement remains transparent and accountable,” he said, assuring that service delivery across counties remains uninterrupted.
The council also ratified a new line-up of committee heads drawn from across the 47 counties, reflecting a balance of regional representation and expertise. Among them are:
Newly Constituted Leadership Team;
- Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa) – Chair, Health
- Simba Arati (Kisii) – Chair, Security and Foreign Affairs
- Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) – Chair, Human Resources, Labour and Welfare
- Stephen Sang (Nandi) – Chair, Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships
- Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) – Chair, Land, Housing and Urban Development
- Dr. Erick Mutai (Kericho) – Chair, Education
- Simon Kachapin (West Pokot) – Chair, Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Services
The newly constituted leadership team is expected to steer the council’s operations until the next elections in October 2026.
Governor Kahiga welcomed the outcome, saying it reflected unity and continuity within the council.
“This leadership represents inclusivity and shared vision. We are committed to sustaining dialogue, collaboration, and progress in all devolved sectors,” he said.
Abdullahi’s re-election has been described as a reflection of stability within the CoG and an endorsement of his calm but firm leadership style. During his first term, he was credited with fostering consensus on fiscal matters and championing stronger intergovernmental cooperation.
As the council embarks on a fresh term, its leadership faces the task of accelerating devolution reforms, addressing funding gaps, and reinforcing county autonomy to ensure that services reach citizens efficiently across the 47 devolved units.
