Ann Kananu Mwenda: Who is Sonko’s pick for deputy governor?

Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko on Monday nominated Ann Kananu Mwenda (pictured) as his deputy to take the position which was left vacant after Polycap Igathe resigned on January 12, 2018.

The nomination soon made Ms Mwenda the centre of discussion given the controversies surrounding her nomination as the Nairobi deputy county chief.

To the time of her nomination, Anne Mwenda has been the Chief Officer for Disaster Management and Coordination in Nairobi County. She has held this position for past two years after being vetted in 2018.

Before joining the Nairobi County Executive, she worked at the Kenya Airports Authority as the security supervisor in charge of quality control and training.

The 39 year-old sat for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary education and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from the Dedan Kimathi University.

Ann lost her husband Phillip Muthatthai in January last year. Governor on his timeline posted an emotional condolence message to his CEC last year.

He said: “My condolences to my Chief officer disaster management Ann Kananu Mwenda for the loss of your Hubby Philip Njiru Muthathai through a tragic road accident at Devki in Athi River a couple of hours ago.”

Her nomination was however critisised by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday.

DPP Noordin Haji challenged the nomination, arguing that the Governor Mike Sonko, who is facing graft charges and was been barred from office by the court and therefore could not exercise such powers.

“We will move to court to challenge this move. The court was clear on what Sonko cannot do. To purport to have power to name a deputy while his case is still on is a violation of the bail terms given to him,” Mr Haji warned.

But in a letter addressed to Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi, Sonko had argued that there was a “legal vacuum then, which has not been cured to this day, to provide for a framework for the replacement of a deputy governor”.

“However, the complexity of the situation in Nairobi became more intricate following my arraignment in court in December 2019, and the subsequent bail terms that, among other things, requires me, as governor, to stay out of office until the determination of the matter,” said Sonko.

Bail terms

Sonko was barred for accessing his office by Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti during the bail ruling.

“I order that the first accused (Sonko) be barred from accessing his office as the governor and if need be, he can only be escorted by the investigating officer to collect his belongings from the office,” ruled Mr Ogoti.

He further stopped Sonko from interfering with witnesses who are his junior staff at City Hall, inciting his supporters to demonstrate or commenting on the corruption case in any social media platform.

While relying on Justice Mumbi Ngugi’s ruling, which subsequently led to the barring Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his Samburu counterpart Moses Lenolkulal from holding office after being charged with corruption offences; the magistrate said it is in the public interest that Sonko be barred from accessing his office.