No vetting of Johnson Sakaja Cabinet until further notice

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. [Samson Wire, Standard]

A court has indefinitely stopped vetting of Nairobi County government Cabinet nominees.

The decision by the Labour and Employment Court follows an application by the Association of Muslim Lawyers and the Nubian Forum which claimed the list was not representative.

Vetting of the ten nominees was to start on November 14.

"The conservatory orders are hereby issued staying, setting aside vetting and approval of the announced County Executive Committee Members," the court ruled.

The court's directive also affects nominees to the position of county secretary as well as advisors to the county government.

County Assembly clerk Edward Gichana confirmed being served with orders stopping the vetting.

"The process has been stopped and we will have to wait for another date to be communicated," Gichana told The Sunday Standard.

On October 26, Governor Johnson Sakaja appointed a ten-member Cabinet. They include former Lands Executive Charles Kerich, the only one from the previous regime. He was nominated to the Finance docket.

Others are Michael Gumo (Innovation and Digital Economy), Brian Mulama (Skills Development and Care), Patrick Mbogo (Mobility and Works), Stephen Gathuita Mwangi (Environment and Urban Planning), Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya (Boroughs Administration and Personnel).

Also nominated to the cabinet are Rosemary Kariuki (Business and Hustler Opportunities), Maureen Munjeru (Green Nairobi), Dr Anastasia Mutethya Nyalita (Health) and Suzanne Silantoi (Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service).

However, a day after Sakaja unveiled his nominees, some MCAs threatened to take him in court claiming he did not consult them. The ward repss trashed Sakaja's line-up as lacking regional and gender balance.