- Bungoma County Attorney Edward Oringe Waswa won the County Attorneys' Forum chairperson seat on Tuesday
- Waswa defeated Uasin Gishu's Silvester Metto and Nyamira's Erastus Orina to claim the top position
- The new chair outlined a vision centred on deepening devolution, institutional capacity, and professional empowerment across all 47 counties
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Bungoma County Attorney Edward Oringe Waswa has been elected Chairperson of the County Attorneys' Forum, following a vote held on Tuesday in Mombasa.
Source: Facebook
Waswa secured the position ahead of Uasin Gishu County Attorney Silvester Metto, who finished second, and Nyamira County Attorney Erastus Orina, who placed third.
New county attorneys' forum leadership
The newly constituted leadership team includes Samburu County Attorney Ms. Peinan Loronyoike as Vice Chairperson, Turkana County Attorney Ruth Emanikor as Treasurer, Kirinyaga's Carol Nyaira as Secretary, and Busia's Innocent Omboko as the Whip.
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Speaking after the election, Waswa described the result as a mandate to bring the profession together rather than a personal achievement.
"I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for electing me as Chair of the County Attorneys Forum. I see this mandate as a call to unite our profession, strengthen our institutions and advance the constitutional promise of devolution," he said.
Waswa, who describes himself as a devolution enthusiast, argued that the Forum must take on a role far greater than that of a conventional professional body.
"It must be a strategic voice in protecting, deepening, and advancing devolution in Kenya," he said.
He set out a vision for an independent, well-resourced, and professionally empowered Forum that would reinforce county governance, champion constitutionalism, and protect the autonomy of county governments.
He added that the Forum would take an active role in shaping national policy and intergovernmental relations.
The new chairperson identified institutional capacity, professional excellence, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable structures as the core priorities for his term, with the aim of delivering tangible results across all 47 counties.
"My ambition is simple: to build a Forum that does not merely respond to the challenges facing devolution, but actively shapes its future," Waswa said.
He drew a direct connection between the strength of county legal offices and the quality of public services. "Strong County Attorneys mean stronger county governments, and stronger county governments mean better service delivery to the people of Kenya," he said.
Waswa closed his remarks by stating that his tenure would be defined by "unity, institutional strength, and leaving a lasting legacy for devolution."
Source: TUKO.co.ke