Sonko yet to appoint deputy one year after Igathe

Nairobi County has not had a Deputy Governor for a year now, and there is no indication that Governor Mike Sonko will nominate one soon.

In January, former Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe resigned over what he termed irreconcilable differences with Mr Sonko.

Whenever the issue of a deputy governor comes up, Sonko dangles some names of nominees to the public, but as soon as the conversation dies, the governor sweeps the issue under the carpet.

In August, Sonko said he had shortlisted four candidates, all women.

They included business personality Agnes Kagure, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, lawyer Karen Nyamu and Jane Weru.

He is, however, yet to present any name to the assembly for vetting.

“I am still consulting with the President, Deputy President, Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju, the Nairobi County leadership as well as other party leaders," said Sonko. "I can assure you that I will appoint a deputy soon.”

He said he preferred to appoint a woman for gender equity purposes.

Miguna Miguna

Last May Sonko had appointed lawyer Miguna Miguna to the position. But it turned out to be a knee-jerk reaction from the mounting pressure. Miguna is in exile in Canada.

Sonko now claims he regrets the decision to give Miguna's name for the position, saying he did that out of pressure from the Jubilee camp.

“I admit that I erred in nominating Miguna without making consultations. But I did it out of bitterness and anger. I will consult my party and appoint an appropriate person,” Sonko said.

Miguna dismissed the nomination as a malicious distraction.

Sonko has also time and again expressed his opposition to the law demanding that when a governor dies, the deputy automatically takes over.

He is now calling on the Senate to review that law or call a referendum to scrap it to have fresh elections conducted when a sitting governor dies to prevent deputies from conniving to have governors killed so they can ascend to power.

"It is bad that even before the body of a deceased governor gets to the mortuary, his deputy has already mounted his number plate on the county vehicle and is ready to be sworn in," said Sonko.

"If there is ever a referendum, the Senate should consider amending that clause on deputy governors taking over," he said.

Sonko also refuted claims that he had hesitated in picking a deputy for fear that he or she would soon take over if he were to die.

"As I have said, I am still consulting. But I know cartels can eliminate me because they prefer someone they can persuade to allow them to steal," Sonko said.