MCAs to vet Governor Mike Sonko nominees next week

Governor Mike Sonko addressing Nairobi County Assembly during the official opening on 29th September 2017. (Photo: Wilberforce Okwiri/Standard)

Members of the County Assembly have been engaging the public on the names of individuals nominated for executive positions by Governor Mike Sonko.

The exercise is taking place ahead of the scheduled vetting of the 10 nominees slated for next week, after their names were tabled in the House last Thursday. The House Business Committee (HBC) chaired by speaker Beatrice Elachi will oversee the process.

“We are required by law to get public views either through oral submissions or in writing on the nominated individuals,” said Chege Mwaura, the city majority chief whip.

Other members of the HBC include majority leader Abdi Guyo, minority leader Elias Otieno, majority whip Mwaura Chege and MCAs Millicent Mugadi, Peter Wanyoike, Peter Warutere, Emily Ondenje, Peter Imwatok and David Mberia.

The nominees

The nominees include Star newspaper editor-in-chief Charles Kerich, who is expected to be at the forefront in steering Sonko’s administration. Mr Kerich, who is also chairman of the Media Council of Kenya, has been nominated for the ICT and E-government docket.

Vesca Kangogo, a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto, was nominated to head the Finance and Economics department, taking over from Gregory Mwakanogo. Kangogo served as vice Chairperson of the Nairobi County Public Service board in the former governor Evan’s Kidero administration.

Elimu Yetu Coalition Director Janet Ouko, who vied for the women rep’s position on a Jubilee ticket, was nominated to head the Education, Youth, Gender, Sports and Social Sciences docket. Former National Housing Corporation MD Peter Wachira Njuguna was identified to head the Lands, Urban Renewal and Housing docket while Hitan Chhagan Majevda was nominated for the Health Services docket.

Emmah Makuhi Muthoni was fronted for the Environment, Water, Energy and Natural resources docket while Danvas Makori was nominated to be the Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries and Forestry executive.

Larry Wambua, who was in the first Machakos Government, was nominated to head the Devolution, Public Service and Administration docket, Media Council chairman Charles Kerich as the ICT and E-Government CEC and Mohamed Ahmed Dagane as the Infrastructure and Transport executive.