Kananu to Take Over as Nairobi Governor Tomorrow

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Nairobi County Deputy Governor and Acting Governor Anne Kananu Mwenda takes the oath of office on Friday, January 16, 2021
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Anne Kananu / Twitter

The Nairobi Deputy Governor Anne Kananu shall be sworn in as Nairobi governor on Tuesday, November 16.

The swearing-in shall be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre(KICC) COMESA grounds, as from 10.00am. 

This is in accordance with a gazette notice issued on Monday, November 11, from the office of the county government of Nairobi. 

"Pursuant to sections 14 and 16 (1) (b) of the Assumption of theOffice of Governor Act, 2019, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 74 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, it is notified for information of the general public that the swearing-in ceremony of Ms. Ann Kananu Mwenda, as the Governor of Nairobi City County, shall take place on Tuesday 16th November 2021 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre COMESA Grounds, starting from 10.00 a.m." the notice read. 

Nairobi DG Ann Kananu speaking in Mombasa on January 29, 2021.
Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu speaking in Mombasa on January 29, 2021.
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Anne Kananu will therefore officially be taking the position of the Nairobi County boss and taking over all functions of the office. Some of the powers were unavailable to her during her reign as acting governor. 

The development came after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko lost his seat in 2020 after the Senate voted in favour of an impeachment motion passed by the Nairobi County Assembly, leaving the seat unoccupied.

The event would have been held on October 26, but Sonko filed an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking to bar Kananu from taking over the office.

His case has since been struck out, and a week later, the office released the dates and venue for the swearing in event. 

The Supreme Court ruled out the case, as it did not meet the threshold stipulated by the constitution, one of those being the absence of judgement from the Court of Appeal.

“The court, we conclude, lacks jurisdiction to entertain the application,” read an excerpt from the ruling seen by Kenyans.co.ke.

Kananu has been the acting governor for Nairobi County since January 18, 2021 - just three days after she was sworn in as deputy governor. 

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko on Friday September 10
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko on Friday, September 10
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