This now leaves the governorship office vacant for assumption by Ms Mwenda pending her swearing in later this week.
Speaking during the ceremony at the governor’s office in Nairobi, Mr Mutura said he now vacates the post after Ms Mwenda was last week sworn in as the substantive Nairobi County deputy governor, a development that affects his continued holding of the governor’s office.
He explained that his assumption of office on December 21 was based on Article 182 (5) of the Constitution because the county government lacked a substantive deputy governor who would have occupied the office thus putting him in charge albeit in an acting capacity.
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MONEY & CAREERS
Nairobi County Assembly speaker Benson Mutura [ PHOTO: Jonah Onyango]
City Hall has initiated the process of paying Sh3 billion in pending bills owed to contractors and suppliers.
Acting Governor Benson Mutura on Friday said the process commenced shortly after the court allowed the county government to enter into consent over implementation of the Sh37.5 billion budget.
The county government could not spend the billions from the 2020/21 budget after former Governor Mike Sonko went to court to block its implementation. Sonko also declined to sign warrants, which are meant to enable the Controller of Budget to authorise the release of funds.
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NAIROBI
pictured) for the deputy governor s position.
Justice Anthony Murima said that he will rule on the application filed by activist Okiya Omtatah at 8am, an hour before the scheduled vetting.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is also challenging Kananu’s vetting.
At the same time, Attorney General Kihara Kariuki insisted that the acting Governor Benson Mutura can appoint Kananu in the absence of a governor.
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According to Sonko, the plot is to have Kananu vetted, assume the position of a deputy governor, and subsequently take up the capital city’s throne.
“The issues involving these petitions revolve around an act which is to be committed. Ann Kananu is not elected and is unknown to the people of Nairobi and the sovereignty of the people is on the test,” his lawyer Wilfred Nyamu for Sonko.
Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju [File, Standard]
Adding: “It is the decision of the Jubilee Party that given the bigger picture of bringing the country together through the BBI avenue, seeding ground to the NASA parties is essential to ensure we do not open unnecessary arenas for conflict with our able partners.”
On the Nairobi Gubernatorial race, Tuju stated that Jubilee is still monitoring how the situation will pan out at the High Court and the Nairobi County Assembly.
Last week, the High Court barred the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from conducting a gubernatorial by-election in Nairobi until the hearing of several cases challenging the ouster of former Governor Mike Sonko is heard.