Sonko nominee put to task over D+ KCSE grade

Governor Mike Sonko's nominee for Environment CEC was put on the spot on Monday over her D+ KCSE grade.

Sonia Birdi, former URP nominated MP, told the Nairobi county assembly Committee on Appointments she will deliver. 

“If I was not positive on the change I want to make, I wouldn't have applied for the position. That D+ in my paper is not a failure but what I can bring on the table," she said.

Birdi studied at Loreto Convent Msongari School.

Committee chairperson Chege Mwaura said Birdi was hostile as she refused to answer simple questions on the environment.

Birdi refused to say where the Dandora dumpsite is located, the source of the Nairobi River and its length. She complained that some questions were insulting.

"I'm sorry, chair, but I'm not a student and I'm not going to answer questions that are asked insultingly," Birdi said.

Roysambu MCA Peter Warutere said she was hostile and had no knowledge of the environment.

Majority leader Abdi Guyo asked Birdi to explain whether her conduct was in order when she and Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter caused a disturbance at the Gilgil weighbridge on January 24, 2015.

"The Leadership and Integrity chapter of the Constitution states that a state officer shall carry out duties of the office in a manner that maintains public confidence in the integrity of the office. On that day, can you tell the committee if your conduct where you were caught shouting contravenes this provision?" Guyo asked.

Birdi asked Guyo to produce the video clip of her shouting. "The matter is in the court and I cannot speak about my conduct on that day, I apologise for that. But if you are a leader and citizens call you to duty, you go," she said.

Birdi told the committee she was not married because no man has proposed to her.

The former legislator failed to submit her bachelor's degree, saying while living in the UK her house was broken into and she lost all her papers.

She said if appointed she will spend the next three years cleaning up Nairobi.

Dr Stella Bosire, who was nominated to the Health docket, failed to appear for vetting. Acting speaker Mwaura said Bosire did not submit her papers. "We assumed she was not interested in the position,” he said.

Bosire said some matters needed to be addressed before she could take up the offer.

She listed Sonko’s abrasive leadership, his lack of respect for professionalism and integrity, and his tendency to sensationalise issues.

She also asked for accountability and transparency in resource allocation and utilisation, political commitment and an end to nepotism.

Bosire is the medical superintendent at Kiambu Hospital.

Sonko said he will nominate someone else. “Bosire was referred to me by one of my confidants as I wanted a woman well grounded in health matters. However, I will nominate somebody else. These things are normal and they do happen,” he said.

Pauline Kahiga who is currently the Urban Planning chief officer and the acting county secretary, has been nominated to Devolution and Public Service Management.

Kahiga said one of her achievements as the acting county secretary is she signed at least 1,700 leases.

She told the committee she cleared pending bills left behind by her predecessor, Peter Kariuki.

Waithaka MCA Anthony Kiragu asked Kahiga to explain why she was the only woman chosen to serve as county secretary.

“I would say my dedication to work and strict adherence to the law are perhaps what prompted the governor to appoint me as the acting county secretary,” she said.

Lucia Mulwa, who has been nominated to the Education docket, said one of her biggest achievements in the last eight months was the renovation of more than 200 ECDE centres.

She said bursary funds will be sent directly to schools to avoid printing errors. "Last year there was a delay in bursaries because many cheques had printing errors. But with this new direction, errors will be minimal," Mulwa said.

She told the committee she is worth was Sh10 million in terms of assets, mostly land.

Finance nominee Winfred Wangui said serving as the Economic Planning chief officer, she had noted problems facing the county Treasury and will solve them. She is acting Finance chief officer.

The problems include underperformance of revenue, administrative personnel and an unreliable revenue collection system.

Wangui further said if given the job she would ensure all funds are decentralised to various dockets instead of being managed by the chief officer.

Wangui said she is worth Sh60 million. During her tenure in her current position, the county has paid staff salaries on time, except last month when workers went on strike.