Mix of Old and Young as Sakaja Names his Cabinet Nominees
By Erick Ludeya
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has unveiled his team of cabinet nominees in a reorganised cabinet structure that manifests his manifesto.
His cabinet will be made of the required 10-member of County Executive Committee officers,County Secretary and Chief of Staff.
He has also nominated four advisors and two other officers who will work in the Govenor’s office.
The lucrative docket of Finance and Economic Affairs will be steered by Charles Kerich who is part of the officers who served in the previous administration and have been retained.
Kerich was first appointed as CEC by former Govenor Mike Sonko and has held the Finance docket in the same capacity he has been nominated.
The second nominee is Michael Gumo who is expected to lead the Innovation amd Digital Economy docket.This docket has for long operated as the ICT department and the new nominee,according to Govenor Sakaja is expected to revolutionise the sector and help residents access more opportunities within the digital space.
Gumo is son to former Westlands MP Fred Gumo
“After thorough such ,have come up with ten members who will form my cabinet, if their names will be approve by the county assembly, “Sakaja said.
The third nominee is politician Brian Mulama who will head the Talent,Skills Development and Care sector. The sector is a reorganised version of the Sports,Culture and Early Childhood Development department.
The Public Works,Transport and Infrastructure sector has been renamed Mobility and Works and will be steered by Patrick Mbogo
The Built Environment and Urban Planning.This new look sector will he headed by Stephen Gathuita Mwangi.
Another new department is the Boroughs Administration and Personnel.This will be headed by Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya.
The formation of the Boroughs Department could see Nairobi divided into administrative units like its the case in New York.The idea behind it is to take services closer to the people,create more Jobs within the new municipalities or units.
The seventh nominee is Rosemary Kariuki who will head the newly created Business and Hustlers Opportunities docket.The docket is expected to inject President William Ruto’s Bottom Up Economic model within Nairobi County.The sector will focus on boosting businesses and protecting Start Ups.
Govenor Sakaja said that the two new sectors will directly report to Deputy Governor James Muchiri.The Govenor had promised to give duties to his deputy.
“Ihave no doubt that this team will deliver, and iwant to ask them to work and deliver to Nairobi residents, “Sakaja added.
The Green Nairobi Sector that represents the traditional Environment,Water,Food and Agriculture departments will be headed by Maureen Njeri.
The Health docket has been renamed Health,Wellness and Nutrition and will be headed by Anastasia Muthethya Nyalita.
The Govenor has also created the Inclusivity,Public Participation and Customer Service sector which will be headed by young Susan Silantoi.
He has retained Dr.Jairus Musumba as the County Secretary.
Mr Lawrence Wambua who has served as a CEC in the previous administration has also been retained as the Economic Affairs Advisor.
Lawyer Elias Mutuma has been nominated as Legal Advisor while William Ndung’u Fazul and Washington Yotto Ochieng have been nominated as Political and Mobility Advisors respectively.
Others are David Njoroge who has been nominated as Chief of Staff, Pristina Mahinda as Private Secretary and John Mwangi who will advise on Urban and Regional Planning.
The governor also said that the county will in conjunction with the national government to unveil the Nairobi Rivers Commission.
He said that his cabinet will focus on creating an environment that promotes citizen engagement, and makes it easy for residents to access service.
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