Questions have been raised about why Nairobi Governor Kananu reinstated Mohamed Sahal as Chief Finance Officer just hours after Joseph Gathiaka replaced him.
According to sources, the decision was made after extensive lobbying by interested parties. They claimed that the governor lacked the authority to transfer someone who was not a chief officer without the approval of the county assembly.
Other officials, however, stated that it is due to competing interests.
Allan Igambi announced the decision to cancel the transfer and asked banks to retain his signature.
This raised some concerns.
Gathiaka had also been appointed as the acting County Treasurer.
Brian Kisali, the Deputy Director for Disaster Management, has been appointed as the Chief Officer for Disaster Management as part of the same changes.
“After considering internal logistical and administrative challenges we will face with this change we will like to recall the forms and maintain the status quo,” said Igambi in a letter dated July 6 to Central Bank of Kenya.
Gathiaka had also been appointed as the acting County Treasurer.
Brian Kisali, the Deputy Director for Disaster Management, has been appointed as the Chief Officer for Disaster Management as part of the same changes.
Elizabtha Njau, the Deputy Director for Trade, will also serve as the Trade department’s Chief Officer.
The changes come at a time when there have been complaints about money owed by the county to county employees.
The Kenya County Government Workers Union-led staff went on strike on Monday, accusing the Ann Kananu-led administration of frustrating and neglecting them.
However, the strike was called off after the union and Nairobi County officials reached an agreement.
Among the issues cited by the union are persistent salary delays, failure to complete promotion of all eligible staff, unwillingness to finalise a pay rise negotiation, perennial electricity disconnections and failure to pay NHIF premiums and remit monthly deductions.
Last year, Sahal was the man of the moment, serving as the most powerful chief officer on the finance docket as well as the health, disaster management and coordination, and trade departments.
Sahal joined City Hall in May 2018 as the Livestock and Fisheries chief officer in Governor Mike Sonko’s inaugural cabinet.
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