Nairobi county speaker Hon Benson Mutura has been sworn in as Nairobi’s acting governor. The swearing-in brings a case of poetic justice of sorts where Hon Mutura replaced Sonko as Makadara Mp and now he is replacing him as county boss albeit in an acting capacity.
Governor Sonko was sent packing last week after the senate upheld the decision by the county assembly to impeach him. Sonko became the second governor to be impeached after Ferdinand Waititu of Kiambu.
The speaker was to be sworn in last week on Friday but the presiding judge arrived late occasioning the postponement of the event.
In article 182 of the Constitution of Kenya, clause (4) says if a vacancy occurs in the office of county governor and that of deputy county governor, or if the deputy county governor is unable to act, the speaker of the county assembly shall act as county governor.
“If a vacancy occurs in the circumstances contemplated by clause (4), an election to the office of county governor shall be held within sixty days after the speaker assumes the office of the county governor.”
“A person who assumes the office of county governor under this Article shall, unless otherwise removed from office under this Constitution, hold office until the newly elected county governor assumes office following the next election held under Article 180 (1).”
Given that Nairobi County currently has no deputy governor, the speaker will serve for the next two months, as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) sets a date for a by-election.
Nairobians will then go back to the polls to elect a new governor who will serve the remainder of the term, ending in 2022
The new governor has promised to ensure speedy delivery of services to Nairobians after long non-delivery of services occasioned by the nonsigning of the financial bill by the then governor Mike Sonko.
