Governor Mike Sonko has been thrown in a limbo after Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi rejected in totality, the name of Miguna Miguna to the Deputy Governor’s job.
Miguna was picked early last month by the governor to deputise him, after the resignation of Polycarp Igathe in January.
Elachi has has thrown out his name, nearly a month after his name was forwarded to the Speaker, Beatrice Elachi.
“Pursuant to Standing Order number one of the Assembly, the name of the nominee be referred back to the appointing authority for further validation,” said Ms Elachi.
In her notice, Elachi cited Article 78 of Constitution on dual citizenship, which put Miguna on the firing line. Miguna has dual citizenship of Kenya and Canada.
playMiguna’s name rejected by Nairobi MCAs as Deputy Governor (Courtesy)
Earlier, Elachi had hinted that Miguna was supposed to clear with the Immigration Department prior to his vetting in parliament.
“A person is not eligible for election or appointment to a State office unless the person is a citizen of Kenya. Any person who has been made a citizen of another country by operation of that country’s law, without ability to opt out,” states part of Section 78 which Elachi cited.
She had anticipated that the exercise would have taken more than a month depending on when the matter will be resolved.
She observed that this is in line with one of the requirements for those wishing to take up political posts in the country.
“I will tell him, first of all you are a Canadian and until you clear your issues with the Kenyan government, then is when we can now understand that we have a Deputy Governor, the law states very clearly that you have to be a Kenyan.
“You know there are procedures also when you are vying as a member and this is a political position and so you have to go through the same vetting of a political position,” she said during a radio interview.
playMiguna’s name rejected by Nairobi MCAs as Deputy Governor (Courtesy)
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On his part, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja had vowed that Miguna’s name would not see the light, adding more weight to the earlier statement by a host of Jubilee allied MCAs at the County parliament, who vowed to reject Miguna’s name.
Dr Miguna, who is currently in Toronto, Canada, has vocally been criticizing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership, urging that the two –DP Ruto and President Uhuru – have been dictators, whom he frequently refers to as despots.
Earlier when he spoke to kenyagist National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale told Mr Sonko to consult with the Jubilee Party leader (President Uhuru) before making his appointment. He argued that Sonko should have withdrawn Miguna’s name as he was neither given a go ahead by party leader, nor was he a Jubilee party member to be named Deputy Governor.