Ngwele rejection at County Hall serves new Sonko, NMS warfront
The fight between Governor Mike Sonko and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has thrust one man in the cross-hairs with the County Assembly serving as the war front.
While the governor wants John Ngwele to continue serving as the County Assembly Clerk, Speaker Beatrice Elachi and a section of Ward Representatives wants him kicked out as first as possible.
The result is a major deadlock over access of cash with Ngwele the county’s founding clerk being a signatory to critical accounts.
Ngwele, who is battling court cases to keep his job that is hanging on a thread is presently facing accusations of aiding Sonko to frustrate the operations of the NMS.
The mess has also sucked in his deputy Adah Onyango who has been interdicted for allegedly conspiring with him to change the signatories of the assembly’s account at Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
Speaker Elachi has rejected Ngwele, who she sacked in November last year after an ad hoc committee indicted him of fraud and other work related malpractices despite a court order and clearance by the anti-graft body.
Fresh ouster
According to Elachi who has accused Sonko of plotting her fresh ouster bid, Ngwele has been operating at the behest of the governor to disturb peace in the capital.
She accuses Ngwele who is currently on suspension of signing affidavits against MNS, as part of a wider plot to terminate the deal that gave birth to NMS.
“This is the governor’s strategy, to ensure he has people who are loyal. Ngwele helped in ensuring the impeachment of the governor was stopped in Court.
He went against the assembly and said as the Clerk, he had not verified the signatures.
On the matter of NMS he (Ngwele) has advised the governor on all cases signing affidavits in support of the executive,” Elachi said.
Ngwele is fighting to keep his job after last week Justice Maureen Onyango ordered him to step aside from his position pending the hearing and determination of the case he has challenged the recent appointment of Edward Gichana as his successor.
However, yesterday Ngwele who appointment and tenure at City Hall has been riddled with controversy having survived an ouster in 2014, rubbished the claims that he was working for Sonko, and accused Elachi and her backers of trying to attract sympathy from higher offices.
