Nairobi county is at a standstill after it emerged that two officials are at loggerheads over the execution of the Finance docket as reported by Daily Nation on Friday, February 28.
On January 30, embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko reshuffled his cabinet, in a move that saw others switch dockets, and other fired.
In the sweeping changes, Sonko fired Pauline Kahiga as Finance and Economic Planning CEC, replacing her with Allan Igambi who formerly headed the Trade ministry.
However, Igambi has been unable to assume the duties of the ministry following legal battles, as to who holds the docket.
Government printer CEO Mwenda Njoka rejected to gazette the changes, arguing that the appointment by Sonko was not done in accordance with the law.
The publication further reported that on Friday, February 21, Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto ruled in favour of the embattled Nairobi governor, stating that he had the right to reshuffle his docket. The county assembly however disputed the ruling, maintaining Kahiga was the substantive holder of the Finance docket.
County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi on Tuesday, February 25 stated that Kahiga would remain the Finance CEC until Sonko tabled documents before the house, notifying of a new appointee.
Elachi stated that the assembly would only inform the National Treasury, Central Bank and the Controller of Budget of the changes after they were satisfied that Sonko had followed the right procedure in replacing Kahiga.
“We are not going to allow you to interdict as you have not told us ... what is going on. Until this House resolves otherwise, the CEC Finance of Nairobi County remains Pauline Kahiga,” Elachi stated.
“Until you unveil the new CEC by following the laid-down procedure, Ms Kahiga is still in office,” she pronounced.
The move by the county assembly is contradictory to the advisory by Ogeto. According to the publication, he had adviced Njoka that Sonko was within his means to appoint a new substantive CEC.
Ogeto argued that the court barring Sonko from office did not translate to the inability to execute his office as governor of Nairobi.
“In the circumstances, it is our considered opinion that, as the law currently stands, there is no legal basis for the Government Printer’s decision not to effect the above-mentioned gazettement as requested by the County Government," Ogeto stated.
Njoka, however, rejected to gazette Igambi as Kahiga's replacement. He went forward to write to Attorney General Paul Kihara, seeking further advice on the matter.
On February 27, Kahiga and Economic Planning Chief Officer Washington Makodingo alleged that they had been forced to tighten their security for fear of attack by goons.
“I have suffered, I no longer have a social life. Goons recently raided my office and vowed to kick me out. They told me I was not needed here and threatened to cause bodily harm. I reported the matter to the police because, with the history of violence in this office, you cannot take things for granted,” Makodingo was quoted as saying.
Kahiga claimed that she had been threatened by goons and had reported the matter to the police.
