Sonko reshuffles Cabinet, assigns Karen Nyamu Agriculture docket

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. [Standard]

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has reshuffled the Cabinet.

He reinstated previously suspended executives Charles Kerich (Lands, Urban Planning and Housing) and Roads and Transport's Mohamed Dagane.

In September last year Sonko replaced 16 officials suspended over deaths from Precious Talent School building collapse.

The officials were mainly drawn from the urban planning, inspectorate and sub-county administration departments, over what he termed as the impunity that led to the death of eight pupils in Dagoretti.

‘Super’ CEC Kerich and Health's Dagane were among the suspended officials over the incident that left 64 injured.

New members listed in the new Cabinet who will undergo vetting are Karen Nyamu (Agriculture) and George Fredrick (Trade and Commerce).

Nyamu is no stranger to Nairobi politics.

She was among eight contestants eyeing the Nairobi Woman Rep slot in the 2017 General Election on a Jubilee ticket. She lost to ODM's Esther Passaris.

The governor's reshuffle has raised questions on whether he has the powers to do that while he's been barred from office by the courts.

But his case rings close to that of his Samburu counterpart Moses Lenolkulal, who got a reprieve when court dismissed a DPP's application to have his bond terms cancelled for reshuffling his Cabinet when barred from his office.

Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Alexander Muteti said the State is not satisfied with Senior Principal Magistrate Thomas Nzioki’s ruling at the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday.

Last month, the Nairobi governor was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts where he denied 19 counts of corruption.

He was released on a Sh15 million cash bail.

In his new Cabinet, the Finance docket will be headed by Allan Igambi, leaving Pauline Kahiga out in the cold.

Only last week, operations resumed at City Hall’s Finance department, following the return of CEC Kahiga who had been ousted by MCAs.

Kahiga took control of the office and averted a crisis, which had been occasioned by the lack of a substantive CEC in charge of the docket, threatening a cash crunch in the county.

She intimated that she had resumed her duties and was back to serving the city constituents as from Friday last week.

Kahiga then explained that a statement from the Government printer had exonerated her from the illegal ouster by MCAs.

Previously, MCAs allied to Sonko stormed her office, demanding for her immediate vacation of the office, saying she had failed in her mandate and was occupying the office illegally.

Larry wambua who previously headed the Devolution docket will now head Environment.

Vesca Kangogo, who has been serving as the substantive Environment lead and acting for Health has been moved to Devolution.

Hitan Majevda now heads Health as Newton Munene and Lucia Mulwa remain in their ICT and Education dockets respectively.