Four female candidates had been short-listed as candidates for the position of Nairobi deputy governor.
They included former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, gender activist and insurance executive Agnes Kagure as well as lawyers Karen Nyamu and Jane Weru.
Nairobi Chief Mike Sonko now says only Jane Weru and lawyer Karen Nyamu are in the race to become the next Deputy Governor of Nairobi County.
Karen Nyamu sought to vie for the Nairobi Woman Rep seat but lost to Rachel Shebesh during the Jubilee nomination exercise in last year’s elections.
On the other hand, Weru is an Executive Director of Akiba Trust Mashinani a Non-Governmental Organisation and also a lawyer.
Ms. Jane Weru, Executive Director of Akiba Mashinani Trust, Kenya at Justice 2030
“A major challenge in poor communities is that they suffer double penalty of poverty-they don’t own the land they live in or the means to advocate for themselves.” #JusticeForAll #SDG16Plus pic.twitter.com/fjMwEIK1FG
— NYU CIC (@nyuCIC) September 26, 2018
Sonko had indicated that he would appoint a woman to fill in the position.
Recently, the Nairobi County Women Forum petitioned the Office of the President and that of the Deputy President to intervene and have Sonko speed up the appointment.
The Deputy Governor’s position fell vacant in January this year after Polycarp Igathe resigned citing failure to earn the trust of the governor.
In May, Miguna Miguna was unanimously rejected by the Nairobi County Assembly who advised the governor to appoint another suitable candidate for the position for vetting and approval.
Governor Sonko is required to nominate his preferred candidate for the Deputy Governor’s post for submission to the County Assembly which will vet and approve the candidate if satisfied.
The Nairobi county assembly is ready to approve a deputy governor if the nominated candidate meets the required qualifications.
“Once the governor settles on who he will nominate, the name will be brought to the assembly and the members will decide whether to pass the name,” Majority Chief Whip Chege Mwaura said.
Polycarp Igathe resigned as deputy governor in January, saying he failed to earn Sonko’s trust. Through his Twitter handle, Igathe said he wishes to resign to avoid “abusing or betraying my oath of office to Kenyans, Nairobians and my family”,
In March, the Supreme Court, in an advisory ruling, said governors are free to pick fresh nominees within 14 days to replace their deputies who resign, are impeached or die in office. Mwaura said the assembly does not have a preferred candidate.
The Majority chief whip said integrity and competence are key qualities
The Kenya Young Members of County Assembly chairperson June Ndegwa, who is also a nominated MCA, praised Sonko for wanting a woman deputy.
“All of the nominees have potential and whoever is picked should understand how our governor works and be ready to deliver,” she said.
Kariokor MCA Millicent Mugadi said all the four women are competent. “Nairobi needs a woman who can represent the people’s interests, have good public relations and above all, bea hard worker.” Political analyst Wahome Thuku said appointment of a deputy governor is long overdue. Thuku said a deputy should have the ability to step in to lead in Sonko’s absence.