Anne Kananu Sworn-in as Nairobi Deputy Governor

Anne Kananu Mwenda has been sworn-in as the Deputy Governor for Nairobi County.

Kananu took an oath of office during a ceremony held at Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) in Nairobi on Friday afternoon.

Her swearing-in came hours after Nairobi MCAs approved her nomination following a brief vetting process on Friday morning.

Kananu was vetted for about one hour by the assembly’s Select Committee on Appointments after which the House convened for a special sitting to adopt the vetting report, which received the support of a majority of the MCAs.

She was nominated to the position by impeached Governor Mike Sonko in January last year but her vetting was suspended pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed by Peter Agoro.

In the petition, Agoro argued that Sonko violated court orders by making the nomination given that he had been barred from accessing office after he was charged with graft. Agoro withdrew the petition early this year, paving the way for Kananu’s vetting.

The office of Nairobi deputy governor has remained vacant since January 2018 following the resignation of Polycarp Igathe.

The swearing-in of Kananu as the deputy governor means there will be no by-election in Nairobi to replace Sonko, who was impeached last month.

Kananu, who has been serving as the county’s Disaster Management and Coordination Sector Chief Officer, will take over the Governor’s office, which is currently held by Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura in an acting capacity.