Nairobi is once again moving to appoint a substantive County Secretary, eight years after the position was last held by a permanent office holder.
But the process has been complicated by a court battle, a rejected nominee and delays in securing approval from the County Assembly.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has nominated Dr Machel Waikenda for the position, with the nominee now awaiting the conclusion of the Assembly approval process.
Waikenda’s nomination has also brought renewed attention to a position that has remained substantively vacant since 2018 and has now become the subject of contempt of court proceedings against Sakaja and Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali.
ALSO READ:Nairobi County Assembly Vets Machel Waikenda for Nairobi County Secretary Job
What is the County Secretary’s role?
The County Secretary is a key office in the county administration.
The office holder is responsible for coordinating the activities of the county executive, ensuring communication between departments and helping oversee the implementation of county government decisions.
The appointment is, however, not made by the governor alone.
The process involves the formation of a selection committee, nomination by the governor and approval by the County Assembly.
It is this process that has contributed to the prolonged delay in filling the position in Nairobi.
Why has Nairobi lacked a substantive County Secretary since 2018?
The position has remained without a substantive office holder since 2018, with acting officials taking over the responsibilities.
The prolonged vacancy eventually found its way to court, with petitioners arguing that the county government had failed to appoint a substantive County Secretary as required by law.
Petitioners Kasichana Riziki Mumba and John Saidi Nyanje filed an application seeking to have Governor Sakaja and Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali cited for contempt of court and committed to civil jail over the alleged failure to comply with orders on the appointment.
What did the court order Sakaja to do?
Governor Sakaja in July told the High Court that he had complied with a court order issued on December 5, 2025, directing him to begin the process of appointing a substantive County Secretary.
According to Sakaja, the first nominee he presented to the Nairobi County Assembly was rejected.
The rejection meant the process had to start again, including the formation of a new selection panel to identify suitable candidates.
“I initiated the process of appointing a County Secretary as directed by the court. I would be the last person to disobey a court order,” Sakaja said through his lawyer, Adrian Kamotho.
How did Machel Waikenda emerge as the nominee?
A new selection panel was formed and shortlisted 10 candidates for the position.
From the list, Dr Machel Waikenda was selected as the preferred candidate. His name was forwarded to the Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly on July 27, 2026, for vetting and approval.
Waikenda has since appeared before the Assembly’s vetting panel, where he outlined his plans for the county administration should his appointment be approved.
What has Waikenda promised Nairobi?
During his vetting, Waikenda pledged to streamline county operations and improve coordination between employees, Chief Officers and other departments.
He said he would hold regular meetings with county staff and senior officials to monitor the performance of different sectors.
“I will ensure that I engage employees as well as Chief Officers through weekly meetings so that we can track the performance of all sectors,” Waikenda told the panel.
ALSO READ: DNG:How Mbagathi Hospital is expanding specialized treatment in Nairobi
Waikenda also promised to confront cartels he said were frustrating service delivery in Nairobi.
Why has the appointment not been completed?
Although Waikenda has been nominated, the process cannot be completed until the Nairobi County Assembly considers and approves the nomination.
Sakaja told the court that the appointment process was now at the stage of Assembly approval.
The petitioners argue that the prolonged delay in appointing a substantive County Secretary amount to non-compliance with the court order.
They are seeking to have Sakaja and Akumali punished for contempt Sakaja has, however, denied disobeying the court order, arguing that he initiated the appointment process and that delays should not be interpreted as deliberate defiance.
His lawyer further argued that Sakaja, who assumed office in August 2022, should not be held responsible for delays dating back to 2018.
Akumali has also denied disobeying the court order, telling the court that he currently serves as Acting County Secretary and a member of the County Executive Committee for Housing.
When will the court make its decision?
Justice Gregory Mutai is expected to deliver a ruling on the contempt application on September 30, 2026.
The decision could determine whether the court finds that the county government has sufficiently complied with its earlier directive to appoint a substantive County Secretary
The immediate focus is now on the Nairobi County Assembly.
The Assembly will consider the vetting committee’s report and decide whether to approve Waikenda’s nomination.
If approved, he will formally take office as Nairobi’s substantive County Secretary, filling a position that has remained vacant for eight years.
For Waikenda, the task ahead would be to coordinate the county executive and address concerns over efficiency, accountability and service delivery.
For Nairobi residents, however, the larger question will be whether the appointment finally brings an end to years of uncertainty surrounding one of the most important offices in the county administration
Leave a Reply