Two top Nairobi County officers have blatantly defied Governor Mike Sonko’s sacking orders and vowing to remain in office despite an advertisement in the local dailies that terminated their services for four days ago.
Embattled Sonko announced that Finance Executive Pauline Kahiga, Finance Chief Officer Washington Makodingo and Agriculture Executive Winfred Gathangu’s services were terminated, effective February 1, 2020.
Sonko explains why he handed over heavy duties to NG
By Thursday 5 March, Ms Kahiga and Dr Makodingo were still in office after the two declared that they are bonafide office holders without any intention to leave despite Sonko’s notice.
In notices that have been published since Monday, suspended Sonko warned the public against transacting any business with Kahiga, Gathangu or Makodingo on behalf of the City Hall declaring them unwanted at the county offices.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/nairobi/2020-02-02-kahiga-why-sonko-sacked-me-as-finance-cec/
Kahiga in her defense said Sonko, in purporting to fire and her but he is not following the laid procedure and therefore she will continue performing her duties until a case on the matter that is still pending is heard and determined.
“If I stopped working with the county in February 1, then how am I still making payments then? The governor had his message that he wanted to send out there by issuing the notice, but I can assure you I am still in office,” Kahiga said.
She over the release of Sh1 billion to pay county staffers’ salaries on Monday.
Makodingo has also trashed the governor’s notice accusing him of trying to interfere with the operations of the finance docket. He said that his contract stipulates that he should be in office with his contract expiring in 2022.
“I am still in office. In fact, I received my salary yesterday. I have a valid contract until November 2022 and the County Public Service Board has not given me any letter of dismissal,” he said.
Makodingo doubted the legality of the notices published in the dailies, noting that they did not bear signatures of the County Secretary or backed by the board.
“My office authorizes the publication of any advertisement or notice and I can assure you we have not authorised for payment of this advert,” said Makodingo.
Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi also expressed support for Kahiga saying that she will remain the county’s lawfully appointed finance executive, heading the department until the National Government completes a takeover of the county’s key functions in accordance with a deal signed late last month.
