Governor Sakaja reshuffles 11 chief officers, appoints new county secretary

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has re-assigned 11 County Chief Officers in accordance with Section 45(5) of the County Government Act 2012.

The changes that were effected on Monday have seen Godfrey Akumali appointed as acting County Secretary, replacing Patrick Analo.

"I hereby make the following change: Godfrey Akumali is hereby appointed Acting County Secretary Patrick Analo Akivaga maintains his substantive position as Chief Officer Urban Planning and Development," Sakaja said in a statement.

The county secretary is the head of the county public service (Article 235 of the Kenyan Constitution).

Akumali was also moved from the Cooperative department to Social Services.

George Mutiso, who was in charge of Social Services was swapped with Akumali, taking over Cooperatives. 

Other chief officers who were affected by the changes include Geoffrey Mosiria, who previously was in charge of Health Facilities and was assigned to Environment.

Hibrahim Otieno was reshuffled from Environment to take over Health Facilities.

Tiras Njoroge was reshuffled from Smart Nairobi to Revenue Administration and Acting Chief Officer for ICT Infrastructure which was previously held by Chief Officer John Lintari.

Lintari will now be in charge of Economic Planning. Chief Officer Machel Waikenda who was in charge of Economic and Planning was transferred to Mobility. 

Boniface Nyamu transitioned from Mobility to Business and Hustler Opportunities.

Zipporah Mwangi, who previously served as Chief Officer of Business and Hustler Opportunities, was moved to Public Participation, Citizen Engagement, and Customer Service.

Lydia Mathia was reassigned from Public Participation, Citizen Engagement, and Customer Service to Housing and Urban Renewal.

Wilson Gakuya who was the Chief officer for Revenue Administration was moved to Smart Nairobi.

County chief officers are authorised to delegate power and are answerable to the county executive committee members in their respective dockets.

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

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja engages residents at a public forum in June 2024. (Photo: Johnson Sakaja)

They also implement policies and programmes within departments. While CECs are equivalent to Cabinet Secretaries in the national government, chief officers are equivalent to Principal Secretaries.

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

List of New Chief Officers and Their Offices: Summary; 

Patrick Analo Akivaga - Chief Officer for Urban Planning and Development (maintains substantive position)

Godfrey Akumali - Acting County Secretary; Chief Officer for Social Services (previously in Cooperatives)

George Mutiso - Chief Officer for Cooperatives (previously in Social Services)

Geoffrey Mosiria - Chief Officer for Environment (previously in Health Facilities)

Hibrahim Otieno - Chief Officer for Health Facilities (previously in Environment)

Tiras Njoroge - Chief Officer for Revenue Administration; Acting Chief Officer for ICT Infrastructure (previously in Smart Nairobi)

John Lintari - Chief Officer for Economic Planning (previously held ICT Infrastructure)

Machel Waikenda - Chief Officer for Mobility (previously in Economic Planning)

Boniface Nyamu - Chief Officer for Business and Hustler Opportunities (previously in Mobility)

Zipporah Mwangi - Chief Officer for Public Participation, Citizen Engagement, and Customer Service (previously in Business and Hustler Opportunities)

Lydia Mathia - Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Renewal (previously in Public Participation, Citizen Engagement, and Customer Service)

Wilson Gakuya - Chief Officer for Smart Nairobi (previously in Revenue Administration)