Reports were rife on Wednesday morning that Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko could have just replaced his recently resigned deputy Polycarp Igathe.
A report by the Star indicated that the Nairobi County was now being run by former Kamkunji Member of Parliament Simon Mbugua, who is a close friend to the flamboyant Governor.
According to Member of County Assemblies quoted by the paper, Mr. Mbugua has been giving orders around City Hall, leaving many to wonder where he got the powers from.
playNairobi Governor Mike Sonko (left) and former Kamkunji MP Simon Mbugua (right) (Facebook)
“We want to know under whose capacity is Simon issuing orders and threatening members of this House and staff,” Waithaka MCA Anthony Kiragu said.
Mr Kiragu also claimed that Mbugua, who is East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP, was attending executive meeting at City Hall and influencing the issuance of tenders in Nairobi County.
However, speaking exclusively to Pulselive.co.ke Communication assistant at City Hall, Richard Bosire dismissed the reports as mere propaganda.
Bosire noted that the Nairobi’s Deputy Governor’s seat was still vacant and would remain so unless the law is amended to provide the way forward.
"That is not possible unless the law is amended. Mr Mbugua is an EALA Member of Parliament and it is not true that he has replaced Igathe,” Bosire said in a phone interview.
playNairobi Governor Mike Sonko (Facebook)
He did not deny claims that Mr. Mbugua has been frequently spotted at City Hall.
At the same time, the lawmaker also denied the allegations stating that his friendship with Sonko should not be mistaken to mean that he is looking for favours from the Governor.
"If someone says I own a company, he should give the name, registration number and all the other details. I’ve never done business with the county government of Nairobi.
"Even former Governor Evans Kidero is my friend, but I never did business with his administration,” he was quoted by the Star as saying
Igathe a former boss at Vivo Energy resigned unceremoniously as the County Deputy Governor.
