NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15- In a record speed and rare ‘efficiency’, Nairobi County Assembly vetted Anne Kananu Mwenda on Friday and approved her nomination as Deputy Governor of Nairobi before being sworn-in later in the afternoon amidst legality concerns raised over the process.
Kananu was sworn in at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) COMESA grounds in record speed and presented with a certificate confirming her as the first female deputy governor of the capital city.
This is despite a constitutional process to have a new governor elected through a by-election having kicked off and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) setting an election date.
Kananu had been nominated by impeached Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who has since claimed he withdrew it, upon ‘coercion’.
Nairobi County Assembly speaker Benson Mutura had been sworn in on 21, December,2020 as the acting governor following the impeachment of former governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko over an array of charges among them abuse of office and gross violation of the constitution.
In her maiden speech,she said it was “the greatest honor of my life” to serve as deputy governor of Nairobi.
“First and foremost i would like to thank the president and the party leader jubilee Uhuru Kenyatta for showing faith in me to serve in this position. I would also like to than honorable Mike Sonko for having faith in me and nominating me in this position.” Said newly sworn in Nairobi deputy governor Kananu.
The deputy governor said that she was committed to serve the people of Nairobi with utmost dedication, focus, discipline and integrity at the same time pledging to work closely with the Nairobi metropolitan services Director Major General Mohammed Badi in ensuring the transferred function of the country are further strengthened.
“We will work round the clock to ensure the expectations of Nairobians are not only met but exceeded in a bid to accelerate the social economic development of our beautiful city.”
The move to swear in Kananu has elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans particularly legal minds that say the constitution of Kenya is under attack.
“Nairobi had no Deputy Governor in office when Governor Sonko was impeached by the Senate. This stupid shenanigans and sideshows to impose an acting Governor on the citizens of Nairobi must be resisted and defeated. IEBC must proceed and conduct the by-election,” Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi said in a Tweet.
Kananu is likely to take over as the first female Governor of Nairobi.
The office of Nairobi deputy governor had remained vacant since 2018 after former D.G polycarp Igathe resigned saying he had failed to gain former governor Sonko’s trust and that it would affect his ability to serve the city effectively.
Constitutional lawyer Waikwa Wanyoike said, “Let it be on record that what Nairobi County Assembly has done in vetting and approving Anne Kananu as DG and obviously making her governor – with the urging of Uhuru and Raila – is a constitutional coup.”
Meanwhile the Thirdway Alliance party in a statement expressed concerns of the swearing in of Kananu saying that the country was slowly sinking into dictatorship as witnessed by a section of the political class who continue to undermine the sovereign will of the people.
“Never in out nation’s 60 year history and especially under the 10 year old progressive constitution of Kenya 2010 have we witnessed such a blatant state sponsored attacks on the constitutionalism and a coup against the will of the people to elect leaders of their choice .”
“Today’s events, and its pattern of enabling commission by state actors- all well choreographed represents the clearest indication yet that the journey to a society guided by laws and not whims and fiat is far from over.” read the statement from Thirdway Alliance.
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