How sacked Mwangaza's legal advisor became Deputy Governor

Last year, Meru Deputy Governor Linda Kiome-Gitonga was the legal advisor to former Governor Kawira Mwangaza. However her fortunes turned for the worst after Mwangaza relieved her off her duties.

But in a twist of fate, Mwangaza was impeached and has since retreated to her Ntumburi home to focus on her Umoja na Maendeleo Party (UMP) and farming.

And Ms Gitonga's star has continued to shine as she  is the Deputy Governor and is sitting pretty in her plush office, next to Governor Isaac Mutuma's office in Meru Town.

There has been many twists and turns in Ms Gitonga's life before  she was elevated to be  a deputy governor.

READ ALSO: Senate upholds Governor Kawira Mwangaza's impeachment

In the 2022  general elections held on August 8, she was the running mate for Mithika Linturi, the UDA candidate.

As it turned out Mwangaza won, Linturi was second and the incumbent Kiraitu Murungi was third.

Before that, Gitonga who attended Sacred Heart Girls High School-Kyeni, before proceeding to Moi University for her Law Degree , had  never thought of going into elective politics, save for Law Society of Kenya, where she briefly served as the president in the past.

But the political bug bit her just recently, when President William Ruto appointed her as a member of UDA national elections board, and when she was elected as Vice Chair of IEBC Selection Panel.

"I did not know that I was going to be engaged in elective politics. Even though my late dad (Kiome Rimbere) was a  mayor in Meru Town, I watched him do the politics with my brothers but I remained at home to do household chores with my mother," she reminisced.

Gitonga's leadership skills were enhanced when she joined the Law Society of Kenya after attending the customary Kenya School of Law and started her practice.

She worked at the Charles Kariuki firm in Meru for two years, during which she became a member of the LSK Mt Kenya region which she eventually headed.

"I received a lot of encouragement from former Meru Assembly Speaker Dr Joseph Kaberia, (Central Imenti MP) Kirima Nguchine and former Ombudsman Florence Kajuju. They told me as a lawyer I should be engaged in its political affairs. I rose through the ranks and became Chairperson of LSK Mt Kenya region," she said.

It was during this time that then Governor Kiraitu appointed her as Vice-Chair of Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital and Chair of the Finance Committee.

Gitonga who also served as a member of the Meru National Polytechnic Management Council, credits Kiraitu for supporting her campaigns for LSK Mt Kenya leadership.

She served briefly as the President of the Law Society of Kenya until she handed over to Eric Theuri.

Then former Agriculture CS Linturi approached and asked her to be his running mate, at a time President Ruto was aiming to sweep elective seats for UDA in Meru.

READ: Five informal settlements in Meru get Sh243m facelift

"Linturi spotted me and engaged me to be his running mate for Governor. When I get opportunities I don't let them pass!" As it turned out Mwangaza won and afterwards Mwangaza appointed her as legal advisor.

"She asked me to be her legal advisor and I accepted. Then she sacked me eight months later! A week later President Ruto summoned me to Nairobi and appointed me as a member of the (UDA) national elections board, a job I did until last year."

Shortly afterwards UDA appointed her to  a member of the IEBC (Commissioners) Selection Panel.
"The political bug bit me and I vied for Vice Chair and I got elected."

It was while there that Governor Mutuma who had been sworn in to replace the impeached Mwangaza, appointed her as the Deputy Governor.

She has been a visible figure across Meru, touring development projects and representing the Governor, including at the just-ended Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County.

She said juggling her duties as a wife, mother and DG are challenging but credits a supportive circle.

"I thank God because he supports me in this journey. I have a supportive husband, family and friends. It is not easy to be a woman and a politician; it is very challenging."

She added; "Our last born is two, still breastfeeding. But when you have a husband who understands your job and responsibilities, life becomes manageable. The Governor tells me that we need to balance our personal lives and official duties."

Gitonga said Governor Mutuma administration is keen to complete stalled projects started by their predecesors and initiate new ones.

"I thank Governor Mutuma for chosing me to work with him to serve the people. I will undertake my tasks to the best of my ability. He is assured of my loyalth, family and everyone. We will support him, because he has a vision to take Meru to the next level," Gitonga stated.