Governor Johnson Sakaja has assured the High Court that the appointment process for a substantive Nairobi County Secretary is actively progressing. This follows a court order mandating the filling of the position, which has been vacant since 2018.
Appearing before Justice Gregory Mutai, Sakaja explained that after the County Assembly rejected his initial nominee, a new selection committee was formed. This committee subsequently recommended Dr Machel Waikenda, whose nomination was forwarded to the Nairobi County Assembly on 27 July 2026 for vetting and approval.
The governor emphasized that the appointment involves a three-step procedure:
- Selection committee recommendation
- Governor’s nomination
- County Assembly approval
Through his lawyer, Dr Adrian Kamotho, Sakaja denied any disobedience of court orders, stating, "I would be the last person to disobey a court order." He and Acting County Assembly Secretary Godfrey Akumali attended the court session to demonstrate compliance and provide updates.
The court appearance was prompted by a contempt application filed by petitioners Kasichana Riziki Mumba and John Saidi Nyanje, who accused Sakaja and Akumali of failing to fill the County Secretary role. However, the governor’s legal team argued that the delays predate Sakaja’s tenure, which began in August 2022, and that the petitioners did not meet legal requirements for contempt proceedings.
The petitioners acknowledged the steps taken but highlighted the prolonged vacancy and reminded the court that the December 2025 order was a directive to commence the appointment process.
Sakaja noted that while he has initiated the process, the County Assembly’s approval is necessary and that the assembly is currently on recess, which affects the timeline.
Justice Gregory Mutai is scheduled to deliver his ruling on the contempt case on 30 September 2026.
