Ann Kananu to be sworn-in this week as Nairobi Governor
Nairobi Deputy Governor Anne Kananu is set to be sworn in as the third Nairobi County boss this week.
This is after the Supreme Court striked out a case filed by former Governor Mike Sonko challenging her swearing-in as Governor.
According to the Apex court, Sonko’s application lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.
“We lack jurisdiction to entertain the application. Objections by the clerk, Nairobi county assembly, and county assembly sustained. Motion dated October 23 is incompetent and hereby struck out,” the court said.
City Hall’s communication office has confirmed that plans for Kananu’s swearing-in are at an advanced stage.
Kananu was subsequently vetted, approved and sworn in as deputy governor, but as she was preparing to take over as governor, Sonko moved to the High Court and obtained orders stopping the oath.
In June, High Court judges Said Chitembwe, Weldon Korir and Wilfrida Okwany dismissed the application and set the stage for Kananu’s swearing-in.
The judges ruled that Sonko was to blame for nominating Kananu only to purport to revoke the nomination when he had already been impeached.
But the ex-governor moved to the Supreme Court arguing that allowing Kananu to assume office will deny him a chance to lead the people of Nairobi who elected him in 2017, and had expectation that he will remain their governor until 2022.
The planned ceremony must be in line with requirements under the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act No.4 of 2019.
The Act requires publication and notification of the swearing-in ceremony in the Kenya Gazette and the County Gazette stating the time, date and venue.
In order for Kananu to assume office, the committee has to be formed and gazetted as stipulated in the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act, 2019.
The committee is to be chaired by the county secretary, Jairus Musumba.
Other members of the committee include the executives for finance, social services, county public service and clerk of the county assembly.
Also, representatives of the National Intelligence Service, National Police Service, a county commissioner and a representative from the Judiciary.
