New County Secretary Promises to Help Sakaja Deliver Manifesto
- for one to be an acting County Secretary, the person must be an active chief officer, Leader of Minority Anthony Kiragu.
- I will use my experience gathered in 15 years of service at City Hall to harness the necessary potential - Analo
By Adieri Mulaa
Nairobi’s new acting County Secretary and Head of County Public Service, Patrick Analo has pledged to forge a mutual working relationship with the county assembly to help the governor deliver on his manifesto.
Governor Johnson Sakaja appointed Mr Analo on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 with immediate effect, after finding himself between a rock and a hard surface, following a decision of the County Assembly last month.
Analo’s appointment comes a month after the county assembly unanimously rejected the nomination of former acting County Secretary and Head of County Public Service, Dr Jairus Musumba for appointment as County Secretary.
Section 44 of the County Governments Act, 2010 provides that the County Secretary shall be the head of county public service.
The office holder is also responsible for arranging business of the county government and keeping minutes of the County Executive Committee (Cabinet).
Impeccable sources told The Times the handing over process began immediately and Dr Musumba had vacated office at City Hall. By Thursday April 13, 2023 there was no word from the out-going acting County Secretary.
Unlike Dr Musumba, all previous county officials who served as acting county secretaries had a fall back because they doubled as members of the County Executive Committee or Chief officers.
In Dr Musumba’s case, his contract as Chief Officer, Health expired in November 2022 while he was the acting County Secretary. He never sought to extend the contract or apply to be considered for a fresh mandate as Chief Officer under Governor Sakaja.
On 15 March, 2023 the Leader of Minority Anthony Kiragu told the County Assembly that for one to be an acting County Secretary, the person must be an active chief officer.
Governor Sakaja suffered a major blow when the House Committee on Appointments resolved that Dr Musumba was not suitable for appointment as County Secretary.
The Select Committee faulted Dr Musumba over loopholes and lapses in in his management over the three-year period he was acting in the position
On the morning of March 15, 2023 Dr Musumba appeared before the House Committee on Appointments for approval hearing following his nomination by Governor Sakaja.
However, he was doomed when the Committee chaired by Speaker Ken Ng’ondi returned a verdict of – not suitable for appointment – which was unanimously ratified by the plenary that afternoon.
Through a Motion moved by the Leader of Majority Jateso Peter Imwatok that was seconded by his Minority counterpart Kiragu, the County Assembly resolved to reject the nomination of Dr Musumba for appointment as County Secretary.
The House further resolved that the appointing authority, being the governor, should appoint another officer other than the nominee within seven days of adoption of the Committee report to act in the position pursuant to applicable laws until the position is substantively filled.
But Dr Musumba immediately moved to the Labour court to forestall the process, apparently in a frantic bid to salvage the decision of the County Assembly and his sealed fate.
So far, there has been no word about the court matter. Governor Sakaja made the appointment after the County Assembly reportedly severed all communication with the Office of the County Secretary because Dr Musumba was a “stranger” in the County Executive, after his nomination was rejected by the House.
In an exclusive interview with The Times on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 Mr Analo thanked Governor Sakaja for the opportunity he had bestowed upon him. He acknowledged that the new posting was a high calling with bigger challenges.
“I will forge a mutual working relationship with the county legislature and use my experience gathered in 15 years of service at City Hall to harness the necessary potential”, he told The Times.
Even though, Analo expressed confidence over the appointment and promised to deliver as required of him in the new portfolio.
“The Office of the County Secretary and Head of Public Service plays a pivotal in coordinating an establishment of over 13,000 employees to achieve on service delivery as outlined in Governor Sakaja’s manifesto, which is hinged on making Nairobi a city of order, dignity, hope and opportunity for all”, he explained.
Last December, Mr Analo was appointed Chief Officer, Urban Development and Planning following his nomination by the governor and approval by the County Assembly.
Mr Analo, has wealth of experience that spans over a decade and a half in matters of urban development and planning, a critical value in any growing metropolitan city like the capital, Nairobi.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Officer, he was Deputy Director, Urban Development and Planning in the county government.
He holds a Masters degree in Urban Management from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Urban & Regional Planning from Maseno University and a Certificate in Senior Management from Kenya School of Government.
In addition, the new acting County Secretary and Head of County Public Service has a Postgraduate Diploma from Makerere University and another Post Graduate Diploma in Law from United Nations University-Switzerland, besides a Certificates in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing.
Employees of the county government who were randomly interviewed expressed their appreciation for Mr Analo’s appointment and hoped that he would look into pending matters on staff welfare.
Since devolved government came into place in 2013 after the Constitution of Kenya 2010 took effect, Nairobi City County Government has had a record 10 County Secretaries. The shortest one in office served for only four months.
Ms Lilian Ndegwa was the first Nairobi County Secretary and Head of County Public Service.
She was appointed by the defunct Transition Authority which posted inaugural chief officers in all the 47 county goverments and county assemblies to lay structures that transformed the previous local authorities into devolved government structures.
She was later nominated by governor Evans Kidero for the position and substantively appointed upon approval by the First County Assembly. When she exited, Mr Gregory Mwakanongo who was the County Executive for Finance and Economic Planning was appointed to act.
Then came Mr Leboo Ole Morintat Leboo, who by then was Chief Officer Public Service Management to replace Mwakanongo. Leboo had previously served as Town Clerk in the former local government regime in various local authorities including the defunct City Council of Nairobi.
When Senator Mike Sonko became the governor, Mr Peter Kariuki who was working in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Presidential Delivery Unit was substantively appointed the County Secretary.
However, with Governor Sonko’s management intrigues, Kariuki served at City Hall for only four months. He was replaced by Ms Pauline Kahiga who was Chief Officer Urban Planning.
Ironically, on 1st April, 2019 Ms Kahiga was quietly sworn in as the County Executive for Devolution and also remained the acting County Secretary.
Governor Sonko re-appointed Leboo as acting County Secretary to take over from Ms Kahiga, apparently after the County Government ran into trouble with the National Treasury.
Towards the end of his term, Sonko appointed Mr Justus Kathenge as acting County Secretary. He was Chief Officer Urban Planning.
Nairobi City County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura would later take charge as acting governor of Nairobi towards the end of 2020 after Governor Sonko was impeached.
In January 2021, acting Governor Mutura made substantive changes in the County Executive which included the appointment of Dr Musumba as acting County Secretary.
He replaced Mr Kathenge who reverted to his Urban Planning portfolio and served to the end of Governor Ann Kananu’s term last August.
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