My New Deputy Will Be a Kikuyu Woman, Says Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko

Governor Mike Sonko has given more details on the person he is likely to appoint as the new Nairobi Deputy Governor, a seat that fell vacant after the resignation of Polycarp Igathe earlier this year.

Speaking during an interview with Kameme FM on Monday morning, Sonko disclosed that Igathe's replacement will be a well-educated woman from the Kikuyu community, but didn't not reveal her identity.

“I know that the deputy governor post should go to a Kikuyu because they have a large population that supported me but let me appoint a Kikuyu I want."

"A technocrat, a professional and an elite. I already have names and I will give it to a woman but I need to consult first and the only people I will consult are President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy president William Ruto,” said Sonko during an interview on Kameme FM.

Sonko said this will be an appreciation to the Kikuyu community for supporting him and defended them against claims of being tribal.

“I have worked well with Kikuyus since 2010 where they overwhelmingly voted for me as Makadara MP. In 2013 they also voted for me as senator and later as a governor. They are not tribal and if they were, I would not have been the governor,” he said.

Last week, Sonko submitted to the Nairobi County Assembly for vetting and approval, names of five nominees to the position. All five were women.

Those in the list included; former Nairobi Woman Representative Rachel Shebesh, former ODM nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro, Citizen TV news presenter Ann Kiguta, Lawyer Karen Nyamu and city business lady Agnes Kagure Kariuki.

If Sonko relies on the list to pick his deputy; then the seat could either go to Shebesh, Kiguta, Nyamu or Ms Kariuki, who all hail from the Kikuyu community.