Nobody understands the Kenyan constitution like James Orengo. That man is called a walking constitution for a reason. He has helped Kenyans know law jargon like Amicus Curiae and many others.
But Orengo is getting old and there is need to find his replacement. Nairobi governor Mike Sonko is emerging as a surprise candidate for this position,
On Wednesday, Sonko appeared before Senate’s Devolution Committee to answer questions concerning why he has not appointed a Deputy Governor.
And om my, didn’t the governor give the learned Senator some valuable law lessons?
‘First of all Mr. Chair, there is no law that compels me to nominate a Deputy Governor’ Sonko started lecturing the Senators.
The Nairobi governor who many believed that he does not have the requisite Education credentials was armed with several documents in the meeting including a Hansard Report from the Senate.
“I am seeking for your guidance as Senators because Article 96 of the Constitution empowers you to oversight us and I am ready to be oversighted but we must have a healthy oversight. You don’t just introduce laws… do not abuse your powers to compel me to appoint a deputy governor,” Sonko said.
The governor who looked sober and was speaking some of the most polished English heard in the Senate said that he had tried to nominate Miguna Miguna but his efforts were thwarted by the County Assembly.
“What are you doing to ensure the CECs you have fired are replaced as required because the county cannot rely on a county which is not fully constituted,” Nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga posed.
In his rejoinder, Sonko said his County Executive is legally operational because the County Government Act allows counties to execute their mandate with not less than five CECs and his county has complied.
From the interview, it seems Sonko understands the constitution more than the Senators or he was just better prepared.
At one time Sonko could not utter 5 English words, now he is quoting the constitution like Orengo.
Sonko 4 President.