Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has confirmed that he authored the letter nominating lawyer Miguna Miguna to be his deputy.
Governor Sonko on Friday said if the county assembly rejects his nomination, he will simply give another name.
“The electioneering period is over. If Nairobi MCAs, who I respect, deny him that chance, I will nominate another deputy,” Sonko said.
Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi on Thursday said they will follow the law, and that Miguna should first clear his issues with the Kenyan government.
"He is Canadian. That procedure can take us three to four months,” said Elachi during an interview with Hot 96 FM.
Elachi also insisted that Miguna will have to present a clearance certificate from Jubilee Party for the assembly to consider his nomination.
While reacting to the news that he had been nominated to deputise Sonko, Miguna said he had not spoken to the governor since last year.
"Mr @MikeSonko and I have not spoken, met or communicated since our gubernatorial debate in July 2017. I will not comment on malicious information, material or cheap propaganda circulating in the social media. Thank you," he posted on Twitter, Thursday.
The unexpected nomination of his political rival has been a subject of national debate since Wednesday, with a section of Jubilee leaders dismissing the governor's move.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja on social media said, "MigunaMiguna will not become the Deputy Governor of Nairobi. Take that to the bank."
The Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale on Thursday said that President Uhuru Kenyatta should be consulted on who should become the city's deputy governor because he is the leader of Jubilee Party in which Sonko is a member.
"Miguna is not a member of the party thus he is not qualified under the Political Parties Act and the timelines given in it," said Duale.
Miguna unsuccessfully vied for Nairobi governor as an independent candidate in the August 8 elections.