The eldest son of the late Baringo Deputy Governor Charles Kipng’ok, Felix Maiyo was sworn into office as his successor on Thursday.
Maiyo was appointed by Governor Benjamin Cheboi following his father’s death on September 14 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after developing breathing problems while preparing to board a Kenya Airways (KQ) flight to Mombasa for a Council of Governor’s induction workshop.
The ceremony was presided over by High Court Judge Hillary Kimitei outside the governor’s office grounds in Kabarnet.
The 36 year old deputy governor pledged to support governor Cheboi’s vision for taking the county to great strides in development.
Mr. Maiyo is an accomplished, multilingual engineer with five years experience in the oil, gas, and geothermal sector.
He holds a master’s degree in oil and gas engineering from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
He worked at National Oilwell Varco, KenGen and CMC Motors.
Until his appointment, the father of two was managing his family’s business.
At the same time, Council of Governors chairperson for deputy governors Martin Moshisho urged deputy governors to play the role of assisting their bosses to achieve all pledges and aspirations that the electorates have been promised.
Moshisho noted that for many years governors and their deputies have engaged in bitter feuds over roles which have greatly hampered development.
He said deputy governors are not competitors of governors but people who can help them in steering their respective counties in the right direction.
“If you stand by your deputy, you are doing a lot not only to yourself but the electorate who needs support from your government,” he said.
The deputy governors’ chairperson pledged that he was keen to ensure that there is unity and harmony amongst deputy governors and their bosses in the third devolution circle.
Moshisho who deputizes Kajiado governor Joseph Ole Lenku thanked Governor Benjamin Cheboi for appointing youthful Kimaiyo to succeed his late father, Charles Kipngok.