Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has settled on Dr Machel Waikenda Karanja to fill the County Secretary position, ending a long spell in which the office has been run by acting officials as the county heads into the final stretch before the 2027 General Election.
Waikenda was on subjected to vetting by the Nairobi City County Assembly’s Select Committee on Appointments last week after being nominated by Sakaja.
He was the only person put forward by the governor for the position, meaning his appointment will proceed if the County Assembly gives him the required approval.
He is expected to take over from Godfrey Akumali, who has been in charge of the office in an acting capacity since August 2024. Akumali was appointed to the role by Sakaja after the position remained without a substantive office holder.
The County Secretary’s office has seen several acting officials since Sakaja became governor. Three officials have served in the position on an acting basis during his tenure, with the office continuing to operate without a permanent holder.
The latest nomination has also drawn attention because of Dr Waikenda’s previous work in national government and his links to the administration of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Dr Waikenda currently serves as Nairobi’s Chief Officer in charge of Lands. His nomination now gives him a chance to move into one of the county’s senior administrative positions, subject to approval by the assembly.
Sakaja had spoken about the choice before the vetting, explaining that the nomination was also aimed at putting to rest claims that his relationship with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had become strained.
A week before Dr Waikenda appeared before the committee, the governor told a local radio station that he had no disagreement with Gachagua and pointed to the nominee’s background as proof that claims of a political rift were unfounded.
"I have no problem with him (Mr Gachagua). For a long time, people had tried to conflict me and him, telling him that I don't work with people from his tribe, and there were a lot of gossip. But if you can see, for now, the name of the person that I have picked for County Secretary is Karanja, who was the minister in Kiambu County."
Dr Waikenda has previously held a senior role at State House. In 2019, he was appointed Director of Political and Intergovernmental Affairs during Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency.
His experience in both county and national government places him in line for the Nairobi County Secretary position, which has remained under acting leadership since the period following former Governor Mike Sonko’s tenure.
The nomination comes with the 2027 General Election less than a year away, adding political interest to the governor’s decision to settle the long-standing vacancy.
If the Nairobi County Assembly approves his nomination, Dr Waikenda will formally assume the County Secretary role and replace Akumali, who has been serving in an acting capacity since his appointment in August 2024.