Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at a past event. [Photo/ nairobinews.nation.co.ke]
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has received a major boost after MCAs approved all the seven candidates he had nominated to join his cabinet. The nominees are Godfrey Nyongesa (Environment, Waste Management and Energy), Maryann Mbaruk (Finance and Economic Planning), Twafiq Balala (Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works) and Edward Nyale (Lands, Planning and Housing). Fatma Awale will head the Water, Sanitation and Natural Resources department while Kevin Munyoki and Hazel Koitaba will be in charge of Youth Gender, Sports and Cultural Affairs and Health respectively.Addressing journalists on Friday, County Assembly clerk Saalim Juma said he had already written to Governor Joho to inform about the approval of the nominees.On his part, Mombasa County Communications Director Richard Chacha said the nominees are likely to take their oath of office next week after passing the vetting process.Edward Nyale who was nominated to head the Lands, Planning and Housing department was approved despite Kipevu MCA Faith Mwende arguing that he was not fit to hold public office after allegedly being linked to land grabbing.Shanzu MCA Maimuna Saalim, however, dismissed Mwende, arguing that the attempt to bar Nyale from being appointed as a CeC had no basis.In his defense, Nyale said he delivered on his duties diligently and without fear of favour when he was appointed the chairman of Teleposta Pension Scheme where he solved different issues including land grabbing among others.Mwende challenged him to ensure that several projects including the Sh200 billion Mombasa Housing Project which was launched by the county boss is realised in the next five years.