Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko admitted having hired executive committee members who lacked the requisite experience for the dockets they were appointed to.
The County Assembly unanimously approved the 10 executives for appointment after they had vetted them and stated that they would learn on the job.
In an interview with a local daily, Sonko claimed that even one of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet Secretary had not shown exemplary performace when being appointed.
“Even Cabinet Secretary Philis Kandie did not perform well in the interview but her docket is leading right now, they will deliver,” Mr Sonko stated.
[caption caption="Governor Sonko"]
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The Governor’s Director of Press, Joab Mwaura, in an interview with Kenyans.co.ke, defended the new team stating that it was too soon for Nairobi residents to call the CECs incompetent.
“It is too soon for Kenyans to term the new appointees as incompetent. Wait until they fail to deliver then hold us to account,” Mr Mwaura stated.
He further admitted that although some of the executive committee members lacked the essential knowledge, the Governor looked at different aspects before hiring them.
Mr Mwaura defended the Governor stating: “These jobs were in the public domain, the Governor looked at individuals and he also considered gender and youths to be highly represented in these dockets.”
During vetting, Ms Emmah Muthoni, who was working as a flight attendant before being appointed at the Environment and Water docket, told the County Assembly she would have to familiarise herself with certain terms used in her docket.
Mr Mwaura, however, affirmed that she had experience in the docket and during her vetting, she was found competent to hold the office.
“Ms Muthoni is very competent and qualified for the job. We looked at how they presented their ideas and not necessarily if they had a background in the office they are appointed to,” Mr Mwaura stated.
[caption caption="Emmah Muthoni Nairobi County's Environment and Water executive committee member"]
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Four dockets of Agriculture, Livestoc,k Development and Fisheries, Roads Infrastructure and Transport, Environment, Water, Energy and Natural Resources and Health Services are alleged to have appointees who lack a background in them.
