Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has pulled a surprise on his constituents with an appeal to them to help him pick a deputy governor.
In his list, he is torn between two personalities-screen siren Anne Kiguta of Citizen TV and firebrand, self-styled NRM general lawyer Miguna Miguna.
In a Facebook post though, he posted 22 names of candidates who he has shortlisted for the job that fell vacant after the resignation of Polycarp Igathe.
Some of them include city businesswoman Agnes Kagure who it was widely expected that he would name as DG last week, Jimnah Mbaru, Karen Nyamu, Senator Millicent Omanga, former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru and Education CEC Janet Ouko.
Others in his list are: Jomo Gecaga-private Secretary to President Uhuru Kenyatta and husband to Kiguta, former PS Irungu Nyakera, Prof James Ole Kiyapi, former KTB chairman Raymond Matiba, Njee Muturi, George Kariuki, former Town Clerk John Gakuo and County women rep Esther Passaris.
“Great people of Nairobi, some say politics is about numbers. This FB page of mine has over 1,300,000 fans out of which 925,892 are Nairobians. I believe it is you the great people and God who have the powers of nominating leaders. Hence hebu munisaidie hapa (help me here) whom do you think deserves to be my Deputy Governor?” read Sonko’s post.
But, according to the Star, there is a high probability the governor has settled for Kiguta.
The Supreme Court in determination of the issue granted governors authority to nominate a person suitable to be their deputies.
The named individual will be then be vetted by the respective county assembly and get appointed or rejected within 60 days.
This follows the fact there is no provision in the Constitution that gives a way forward in case the office of the deputy governor falls vacant.