A top State House insider has been dragged into the ongoing battle between Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and a section of the county's MCAs.
On Tuesday, March 10, Kitisuru Ward MCA Alvin Palapala, led a team to probe claims that Sonko's wife Primrose Mbuvi and his daughter, Saumu, attended a forum in the US in March 2018 funded by taxpayers.
Justifying the trip, the flamboyant governor argued that the two had been sanctioned by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, who enjoys a close relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He further claimed that the two were part of a delegation sent to attend the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 2018) and thus were entitled to funding just like the rest.
"My attention has been drawn to unsubstantiated claims made yesterday by the Kitisuru Ward MCA, Hon. Alvin Palapala, that the Nairobi City County first lady and my daughter Saumu Mbuvi made an irregular trip to New York in March 2018 at the expense of the taxpayers.
"First, I wish to clarify that her inclusion, and that of my daughter, in the said trip were sanctioned by none other than the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua. As such, she was entitled to a fully-funded trip by the Nairobi City County government, like any other delegate, to attend the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 2018)," read a part of the governor's statement.
He went ahead to note that he personally funded the trip for his wife and daughter in term of transport and accommodation.
"However, I personally catered for the transport, accommodation and related costs for both my wife and daughter.
It is therefore preposterous and ignorant for the said MCA to make allegations that he cannot prove. If anything, I would like to challenge him to provide any proof of payment of per diem to either my wife or daughter," he added.
The two accompanied other delegates to the commission on the Status of Women is hosted at UN headquarters.
They were in the company of Nominated Senator Milicent Omanga.
