Mike Sonko Nominates Four Female Candidates for Nairobi Deputy Governor Seat

Governor Mike Sonko has shortlisted four female candidates to fill the vacant position of Nairobi Deputy Governor.

The four women include former Starehe Member of Parliament Margaret Wanjiru, gender activist and insurance executive Agnes Kagure and lawyers Karen Nyamu and Jane Weru.

Ms Karen Nyamu expressed interests in the Nairobi Woman Representative seat but lost to Rachel Shebesh during the Jubilee party primaries ahead of last year's elections.

Advocate Jane Weru is currently the executive director of Akiba Mashinani Trust, a non-profit organization that focuses on housing development & finance.

Governor Sonko allegedly picked the four from a list of 10 names. The Governor said he is still consulting with the Jubilee Party leadership before submitting name of the final candidate for vetting and approval by the Nairobi County Assembly.

“I prefer a woman for the position,” he said in an interview with Milele FM on Wednesday.

“I have four names in mind but I am waiting for consultations with top Jubilee party leadership who are my bosses to see who to choose.”

Sonko had on May 17th nominated deported lawyer Miguna Miguna for the seat but his name was rejected by Nairobi County Assembly on grounds that he is not a Kenyan citizen.

“I want to apologise. I appointed him (Miguna) out of anger, bitterness, and also there was a lot of pressure, intimidation and blackmail and so I gave them Miguna,” Sonko said during the interview with Milele FM.

The seat fell vacant after resignation of Polycarp Igathe on January 31st citing failure to earn the trust of Sonko.

“Without fear, favour or ill will I step down to avoid abusing or betraying my oath of office to Kenyans, Nairobians and my family. Thank you for the encouraging support given to me so far,” he said in a post on Twitter.