NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 22 – Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia has nominated lawyer Linda Kiome as his deputy. She now awaits vetting and approval by the Meru County Assembly before officially taking office.
Kiome is the daughter of Samuel Kiome Rimbere, a former councilor and the first Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Meru’s Municipality Ward.
Her nomination comes after Governor Mutuma’s recent inauguration, which followed the impeachment of his predecessor, Kawira Mwangaza.
In January 2025, President William Ruto appointed Kiome as the Vice-Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel, where she served alongside Nelson Makanda.
Kiome also briefly served as the legal advisor to Governor Mwangaza until their professional relationship soured, leading to her dismissal in April 2024.
Her entry into politics came in 2022 when former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi selected her as his running mate in the Meru gubernatorial race. They finished second to Kawira Mwangaza.
Kiome has had a distinguished legal career, including acting as the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) after Nelson Havi’s ouster in January 2022. She also chaired the LSK Mt. Kenya Caucus and served as a board member for both the Meru National Polytechnic and the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Meru County has experienced significant political instability and leadership struggles since the 2022 general elections.
Governor Mwangaza’s tenure was marked by clashes with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and members of her own executive, resulting in ongoing governance challenges.
Mwangaza, the first woman to lead the county, faced two impeachment attempts during her time in office. The first attempt was overturned by the Senate in 2022, but her strained relationships with MCAs and other leaders continued. She was accused of abuse of office, nepotism, and high-handedness—claims she denied, labeling them as political witch-hunts. Ultimately, she was impeached in February 2025, culminating in Meru’s prolonged leadership crisis.
Following her ouster, M’Ethingia was sworn in as the new Governor. He had previously served as the Speaker of the Meru County Assembly.