Africa-Press – Kenya. Nairobi County may soon get a new governor after a court ruling that dismissed a petition by impeached Governor Mike Sonko.
In the Friday, October 22, ruling, the court declared that Acting Governor, Anne Kananu, should be sworn in as the new county boss.
The court further threw out Sonko’s petition seeking to bar Kananu from taking over City Hall stating that his application dated June 29, 2021, is without merit and ordered the respondents to bear their own costs.
The court declared that Sonko’s application did not meet the threshold set for such applications under the rules of the Court of Appeal.
Sonko had asked the court to issue orders barring Kananu from taking the oath of office pending the hearing and determination of the intended appeal.
The court had earlier on sided with Sonko and issued a conservatory order restraining anybody or any state organ or authority from swearing-in Kananu as Governor of Nairobi City County.
Pending the hearing and determination of the intended appeal order were also issued restraining Kananu from assuming the substantive office of Governor for Nairobi City County or in any way performing any roles reserved for a substantive Governor.
In June 2021, the High Court dismissed petitions that were filed challenging the nomination, vetting and swearing-in of Kananu Mwenda as Nairobi Deputy Governor.
A three-judge bench ruled that the swearing-in of Kananu was lawful notwithstanding an attempt by Sonko to reverse her nomination.
Sonko had argued that he had cancelled Kananu’s nomination and the County Assembly had no authority to appoint her as deputy governor and afterwards as the county boss who will take over following his ouster.
Attorney General, Kihara Kariuki, urged the court not to block Kananu’s vetting, arguing that Sonko has no powers to revoke her nomination.
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