Fired Minister Refuses to Hand Over Nairobi Billions 

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Former County Executive for Finance Pauline Kahiga during the launch of the biometric system at City Hall on May 22, 2019..jpg
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Former County Executive for Finance Pauline Kahiga during the launch of the biometric system at City Hall on May 22, 2019..jpg
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Pauline Nyambura Kahiga, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning who was fired by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko March 6, is at the heart of a dramatic tussle that has sunk Nairobi County to its knees.

According to the details of a letter sent by Sonko to Central Bank of Kenya Governor Patrick Njoroge, the ex-CEC refused to handover her signatory mandate to the governor's new appointee Allan Esabwa Igambi.

"The previous office-holder has failed to present herself to sign the surrender to enable such transfer," reads an excerpt of the letter seen by Kenyans.co.ke.

Nairobi Governor signing documents facilitating the handover of some county functions to the new Director-General of Nairobi Metropolitan Services on March 18, 2020.
Nairobi Governor signing documents facilitating the handover of some county functions to the new Director-General of Nairobi Metropolitan Services on March 18, 2020.
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Kahiga's move has left the entire county in limbo, with staff salaries, bills, and other outstanding payments currently unprocessable.

In his letter, Sonko also revealed that the new Director-General of Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), Major General Mohamed Abdalla Badi - who was appointed to the post by President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 18, would not be able to run the county. 

"The operations of the NMS which was unveiled by the president on March 18, to assume responsibility for the execution of the functions that were transferred to the national government, are also likely to be hindered if the current stalemate persists," the letter further reads.

Sonko urged CBK to begin the process of ensuring that Kahiga's signatory mandate was transferred to the duly appointed CECM for Finance and Economic Planning, to enable his government to carry out its obligations.

"The requirement for the previous holder of the office to sign the surrender is a formal administrative requirement which can be dispensed within certain compelling circumstances, such as the present one in which the previous office-holder is unavailable or perhaps unwilling to sign the surrender," the governor reiterated.

On January 30, the embattled governor reshuffled his Cabinet, however, Government Printer CEO Mwenda Njoka, declined to gazette the changes, arguing that the changes were not done in accordance with the law.

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.

The governor is now seeking reprieve at the CBK, going on to inform Governor Njoroge that if his requests were not attended to, he would be forced to seek a legal remedy in form of a lawsuit.

"The bank is advised to proceed and effect the necessary signatory mandate changes as advised above in compliance with the law and in the public interest and to avoid exposure to possible legal action," a section of the letter reads.

On her part, Kahiga openly stated that she would continue executing her duties, claiming that the governor did not follow the legally approved procedure when replacing her. 

She further claimed that she had been threatened by goons and that she had duly reported the matter to the police.

President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking after he commissioned the Nairobi Metropolitan Service at State House on March 18, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking after he commissioned the Nairobi Metropolitan Service at State House on March 18, 2020.
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