On November 20, 2018, Nairobi ward representatives moved to force Governor Mike Sonko’s administration to account for the employment status of its county executive committee members after questions emerged over expired contracts.
The dispute centred on 10 county executives whose terms were said to have lapsed the previous Thursday, raising concerns that they may have continued serving without valid authority. The Budget and Appropriations Committee said it wanted documentary proof showing which officers were still legally able to transact business for City Hall.
Finance and Economic Planning Executive Allan Igambi, who had appeared before the committee the week before, told the members he was not even sure when his own contract ended. He said:
“I was employed on a one-year contract but I have to refer to the document to see when it lapsed,”
County Attorney David Aseko was also pressed to explain the current employment position of the CECs. Budget committee chair Robert Mbatia said the county attorney should consult the Executive and provide documentation confirming whether the officers’ contracts remained valid.
Mbatia warned that if Aseko failed to respond quickly, the committee would proceed to prepare its report without input from the Executive. Ward representatives also said they could stop dealing with the CECs altogether, with Kayole South MCA Fredrick Okeyo arguing that it would be illegal to transact business with officers whose contractual status was unclear.
Aseko, however, said the County Public Service Board was the only body that could clarify the matter. He said:
“It is important that we seek the information from the appointing authority because I am not able to tell you about the CECs' contracts.”
The issue was made sharper by an October advertisement from the board for five executive vacancies, which stated that all the executives had signed one-year contracts with the county government.
The row left Sonko’s administration under pressure to produce records showing who was lawfully in office and who was not.
