Questions are being raised as to why Nairobi Governor Kananu reinstated Mohamed Sahal to the Chief Finance Officer hours after he had been replaced by Joseph Gathiaka.
Insiders said the move came after intensive lobbying by interested parties.
“It’s all about their money and not services to the public,” said an insider. They claimed the governor had no powers to move someone who is not a chief officer without the approval of the county assembly.
But other officials said it is because of various interests.
The move to rescind the transfer was announced by Allan Igambi who asked banks to retain his signature.
This raised questions.
“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 the Central Bank of Kenya.
Gathiaka had also been appointed as acting County head of treasury .
In the same changes, Deputy Director for Disaster Managemen Brian Kisali has been appointed as the Chief Officer for Disaster Management. Deputy Director for Trade Elizabtha Njau will also be acting in the Trade department as its Chief Officer.
The changes come at a time when complaints have been raised concerning finances owed by the county to County staff.
The staff led by the Kenya County Government Workers Union had gone on strike on Monday, after accusing the Ann Kananu-led administration of frustrating and neglecting them.
But the strike was called off after an agreement was reached between the union and Nairobi County officials.
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 where apart from being the most powerful chief officer for the finance docket, he held the same position in the health, disaster management and coordination and trade departments.
Sahal joined City Hall in the inaugural cabinet of Governor Mike Sonko in May 2018 as Livestock and Fisheries chief officer.
A vetting report of inaugural chief officers tabled in the Nairobi County Assembly on May 3, 2018, indicated that Sahal was at the time studying for a doctorate of business administration in strategic management from California Miramar University in California, the United States.
The same report said he holds a master's degree in project planning and management from the University of Nairobi and a bachelor's degree in development studies from Kampala International University.
Sahal was then moved to the Health department after the sacking of chief officer Mahat Jimale, relieved of his duties by Sonko over alleged insubordination in September 2019.
However, with the changes Governor Kananu made today, Sahal will be in one docket only.