- The current cabinet was named by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko back in 2017 and some changes were made by his successor Ann Kananu.
- Prior to his impeachment in December 2020, Sonko's reign as Governor was rocked by numerous reshuffles of his cabinet.
Image: NCCG
Nairobi residents will this week know the new faces in Governor Johnson Sakaja’s executive cabinet.
Last Friday, he said he will announce the nominees this week who will be subjected to vetting by the Nairobi County Assembly.
According to Section 42 (2) (2) of the County Government Act, the constitution of a new executive committee after an election under subsection (1) shall be finalised within 21 days of the swearing-in of the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs). The MCAs were sworn in on September 29,2022.
Sakaja had earlier revealed that his deputy Njoroge Muchiri will be in charge of a docket just like other CECs.
“Deputy governors don't have a defined role as per the constitution but my deputy will be a very busy man. He is an amazing man and a real face of the corporate world,” Sakaja said then.
Chapter 11 of the constitution describes the composition of the county government and the functions of all the offices including that of the deputy governor. The only functions ascribed to the deputy governor are set out in Section 179 (3 & 4); he is the deputy Chief Executive Officer of the county and deputises the governor in his absence.
The only other place the constitution refers to the Deputy Governor is in section 181, involving the removal of the governor. Here the deputy governor gets the honour of being the apparent heir.
Nairobi being the capital, Sakaja—who promised an all inclusive government—is expected to do a delicate balancing act to please all players.
First, the governor has to formally request the County Public Service Board of his intention to recruit new cabinet executives as per the Constitution of Kenya 2010 Article 179 and the County Governments Act No. 17 of 2012 Section 35.
The City Hall has to advertise the positions in invited applications for county executive positions with the deadline for submission set.
The current cabinet was named by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko back in 2017 and some changes were made by his successor Ann Kananu.
However, prior to his impeachment in December 2020, Sonko's reign was rocked by numerous reshuffles of his cabinet.
As it stands, the current cabinet consists of Winfred Gathagu who is the CEC for Commerce, Tourism and Cooperatives and Lands and Housing department in an acting capacity.
Larry Wambua is in charge of the Environment, Water and Sanitation and Devolution in an acting capacity.
Lucia Mulwa is the CEC for Food and Agriculture and acting in Education and Sports.
Hitan Majevdia is in charge of the Health docket, Allan Igambi in finance and economic planning, Newton Munene in ICT and Mohamed Dagane is in charge of Roads, Transport and Public Works.
Three cabinet members Charles Kerich (Lands and Housing), Veska Kangogo (Devolution and Public Service) and Janet Ouko (Education and Sports) had handed in their resignation letters before the February 9 deadline for public officers seeking elective politics.
They were joined by Food and Agriculture chief officer Halkano Waqo and his counterpart in Water, Energy and Sanitation Mohamed Abdi, who was also an acting Devolution chief officer.
We also have former councillor Paul Mutunga as the Chief of Staff and Jairus Musumba as the Acting County Secretary and Lydia Kwamboka as the County Attorney.