Leadership chaos continues to engulf the leadership of Nairobi County after the arrest and detention of the county's Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko over graft allegations.
With the absence of the county boss, experts are seeking guidance from the constitution on the way forward should the governor be barred by the court from accessing his office.
The fear of the governor being restricted from accessing the county offices stems from the recent cases of Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu and Samburu County Governor Moses Lenolkulal who were barred from accessing office.
The constitution directs for a deputy governor to take over the office in the absence of the governor, which can however not be the case for Nairobi county as the position of the deputy governor is vacant after the resignation of Polycarp Igathe.
The second person in succession of the office is the County Assembly speaker, who in this case is Beatrice Elachi.
According to the constitution, Article 192(1) empowers president Uhuru Kenyatta to step in and suspend the county government in an event that the chaos in leadership persists.
"...the president may suspend the county government in an emergency arising from internal conflict or war or in any other exceptional circumstances," reads the constitution in part.
A Commission of inquiry will, however, have to confirm the suspension. The suspension may nonetheless be cancelled by the Senate upon which a gubernatorial election will be held within 90 days of the suspension.
According to Constitutional Law Expert Bobby Mkangi, removal of a governor from the office will have to strictly adhere to the constitution.
"A governor, an elected official cannot be removed in office unless the criterial and the grounds in the constitution are satisfied," Mkangi stated.