Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has sacked the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning, Charles Kerich, just days after he was sentenced to three months in jail for contempt of court.
Sakaja was also accused by the lawyers for aiding the contemnor to fly out of the country in the guise of being in an ‘official duties’
Sakaja made the announcement on Friday 5th June, while also confirming the suspension of Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning, Patrick Analo, who is at the centre of a Sh65.3 million corruption investigation.
According to the Governor, Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya will serve in an acting capacity as the new Finance Executive Committee Member for Nairobi County, replacing Kerich, who was handpicked by former governor Mike Sonko from Radio Africa, where he was an editor for Star Newspaper
“Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya shall act in the capacity of the County Executive Member for Finance and Economic Planning effective immediately,” Sakaja said.
The Milimani High Court found Kerich guilty of contempt on May 19 after he failed to comply with court orders requiring payment of more than Sh106 million to a Nairobi-based law firm.
Francis Gikonyo sentenced Kerich to three months in prison without the option of a fine, citing his continued failure to honour the payment directive as a man in charge of finances.
“The contemnor, Charles Kerich, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance, Nairobi County Government, is hereby sentenced to serve three months in prison,” the Justice ruled then.
The court also directed the Officer Commanding Station at Central Police Station in Nairobi to arrest and detain Kerich following findings that he knowingly ignored orders requiring the Nairobi County Government to settle a substantial debt owed to Kwengu & Company Advocates.
The case arises from a prolonged legal dispute in which the law firm has been pursuing payment of over Sh106.7 million owed by Nairobi county government
The amount relates to funds the county government was instructed to release following a judgment involving Foton East Africa Limited.
The obligation to pay had already been formalised through a Certificate of Order Against the Government issued in November 2024, after earlier court proceedings.
The issue on the table is dating back to 2018, when the advocates moved to court, accusing the county government of Nairobi of repeatedly failing to comply with lawful orders despite being properly served