Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua withdraws rejected cabinet nominees

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua. (Photo:File/Standard)

By Steve Mkawale

Nakuru, Kenya: Embattled Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has yielded to demands by members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to withdraw names of six cabinet nominees that were rejected.

Gov Mbugua and the MCAs have been at loggerheads for the past three weeks following his decision to swear in the rejected appointees at a local private members’ club.

The assembly had also rejected two other appointees to the county Public Service Board. Sources told The Standard Wednesday that the governor wrote to the Speaker of the County Assembly Susan Kihika withdrawing the names of the eight appointees but he is yet to replace them.

“The letter withdrawing the names of the eight nominees was brought to the assembly but we are yet to receive other nominees to be vetted by the committee to replace the rejected ones, “said the source that requested anonymity for fear of losing his job.

Over the weekend, Deputy President William Ruto held a meeting with Members of the MCAs and the Governor after attending Sunday church service at St Gabriel Catholic Church in Bahati, Nakuru.

Ruto met the MCAs led by the Speaker and leaders of the majority Mwaura Njenga and Deputy Governor Joseph Ruto at the home of Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.

Wednesday, The Standard established that the MCA will only withdraw a motion to impeach the governor for violating the constitution until after he formally revokes the controversial appointments and presents new names to the assembly for vetting.

“He has done the first part of what we agreed, he need to now present the new names before the motion is withdrawn,” said a Ward Representative.

Mbugua has chosen to blame the media for the raging controversy saying the issue had been blown out of proportion.

“Some of the noises you have been hearing are just differences over procedure between the Assembly and the Executive and you should not worry about Nakuru,” Mbugua said.

Mbugua’s move to withdraw the names is a clear indication on how powerful the MCAs have become and that governors intending to ignore them in the leadership of devolved governments would only do so at their own peril.