Is Governor Mike Sonko following the footsteps of Ethiopians?
Well Governor Mike Sonko shortlists two female, Jane Weru and lawyer Karen Nyamu as the next Deputy Governor of Nairobi County.
The Governor stated that he had dropped former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and gender activist and insurance executive Agnes Kagure.
Nyamu came into the limelight after she expressed interest in the Nairobi Woman Representative’s seat in the last year’s General Election but lost during party nominations.
On the other hand, Weru is an Executive Director of Akiba Trust Mashinani a Non-Governmental Organisation and also a lawyer.
Sonko had indicated that he would appoint a woman to fill in the position.
In March this year,Governor Sonko had proposed some names and asked Kenyans to help him choose a deputy among them was ; business woman Ann Kagure , former town clerk John Gakuo,Lawyer Karen Nyamu who came into the lime light after she unsuccessfully vied for the position of Nairobi Woman representative in 2017 and the former Starehe MP and also contested for Nairobi Gubernatorial seat in last year’s general election Bishop Margret Wanjiru among others.
However 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.
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 specifically a female deputy governor.
Led by Nairobi County Women Forum chairlady Cecilia Wairimu,the women want Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to move with speed and appoint a Deputy Governor preferably a woman.
They presented their petition to the Governor’s office as well as the Office of the President, and that of deputy president.
Also present during the demonstration, Muthoni chege said that they appreciate the good job the Governor is doing but he has to appoint a woman to fill the post that has been lying vacant for a year.
“A house cannot be complete without a woman and Sonko’s house lacks one. We don’t have a specific person we want to be appointed but we want those he nominated vetted and whoever comes out strongly to get the job, ” Chege said.
“For a close to a year ,women have waited for the Governor to honour his pledge of appointing a woman Deputy Governor.Some of the problems women face emanate from the fact that there isn’t someone high placed to stand for them,”she said.
The position of a Deputy Governor has been vacant since January this year after Polycarp Igathe tendered his resignation.and 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.