Economy

Reshuffle looms in Sonko cabinet

GOV

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is set to announce a new cabinet this month with contracts of most of the county executives having expired early November.

Appearing before County Assembly Budget and Appropriations committee, acting County Secretary Pauline Kahiga said Mr Sonko extended contracts of some of the county executives which had expired this month by only one month in preparation for a major overhaul of the cabinet within a week or so.

“His (Finance executive Allan Igambi’s) contract has been renewed for a period of one month in anticipation of a cabinet announcement by the governor which will happen in the next one week,” said Ms Kahiga on Thursday last week.

She was responding to the committee members’ concern over the status of contracts of the county executives after it emerged that contracts of about eight county executives have expired and are yet to be renewed.

“I can confirm that the executives have their letters but they are not all for the same extension period. The contracts have been extended for one month which within the period we expect a cabinet announcement from the Governor,” she said.

Lands executive Charles Kerich, Transport boss Mohamed Dagane and Education and Sports executive Janet Ouko who were present before the committee, confirmed to have their letters of extension of contracts.

Last month, the County Public Service Board (CPSB) advertised vacancies for five county executive positions.

The Board chair, Mr Philip Kung’u, said all the county executives had signed a one year contract with the county government when they were hired and that their contracts were to expire this month (November).

Mr Kung’u confirmed that the Board received 99 applications for the five positions and has already handed over the report to the governor and the matter is with the county boss.

“Once we send them to him, it is up to him to decide how he wants to deal with the process. If he wants to appoint a panel to look through the applications and give him recommendation, that he can do. If he wants the Board to do it then he can also ask the same of the board. Ours was just to do the advert, receive applications and forward the same to him,” said Mr Kung’u yesterday.

Last week, the county ward representatives demanded that the Governor clear the air on state of contracts given to members of his cabinet after it emerged that some executives may be in office illegally.

The ward representatives raised alarm over the situation that threatens to throw service delivery in the capital city into disarray, with the revelation that most of the contracts given to the10 county executives expired Thursday two weeks ago.

The MCAs threatened to stop “transacting business with people who do not have valid contract” demanding to be shown documents as an assurance that they are transacting county business with individuals legally in the office.