Some of the people who served in former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s administration are among 128 candidates shortlisted for chief officer positions.

Other former chief officers who served in former Governor Ann Kananu administration have also made it to the list.

They include: Halkano Waqo Dida — who served as chief officer for Finance and ICT, and who is a brother of former EACC boss Halake Waqo.

Justus Kathenge served as Urban planning chief officer and acting county secretary, while Stephen Mutua was also chief officer for Finance in Sonko’s reign.

Also on the list is the outgoing CEC Winnie Gathangu, who once served as CEC for Lands, Trade and Agriculture, and Patrick Akivanga, the Head of Urban Design and Outdoor Advertising.

Also attempting to make a comeback is Simon Leboo Morintat, who served as acting county secretary and chief officer for devolution.

Former City MCAs are also among 128 candidates shortlisted for the chief officer positions.

Acting secretary

According to the list from the County Public Service Board ( CPSB) dated November 11, 2022, ANC’s presidential campaign strategist Lynette Nyangweso and former UDA Dagoretti North aspirant Gabriel Chapia have also been shortlisted.

AFC Leopards’ former secretary General Oscar Igaida has also been shortlisted.

Others include former Minority leader and Embakasi MCA Michael Ogada, who vied for the Embakasi East MP position but lost.

Former Roysambu MCA Peter Warutere and Zimmerman Pius Mbona also lost to UDA candidates in the August polls.

Also making it to the list is former Nairobi Metropolitan Services director for Health Fredrick Ouma Oluga.

In the list, too, is City Hall’s former head of Security and Enforcement, Tito Kilonzi.

The 128 candidates will be vetted by the respective County Assembly committees between November 22 and November 29, 2022.

The board advertised for the position last month and eligible individuals were to submit their application forms online before or on October 19, 2022.

Delegated power

County chief officers are the authorised persons in the exercise of delegated power and are answerable to the county executive committee member in their respective dockets.

Their key functions include the day-to-day administration of departmental activities and provision of strategic policy direction for effective service delivery within the departments they are assigned to.

They also implement policies and programmes within the departments.

While county executive committee members are equivalent to cabinet secretaries in the national government, chief officers are equivalent to permanent secretaries.

The power to deploy a county public officer within a department is vested in the county chief officer.