Sonko to Lose Another Key Function to NMS

Presidnet Uhuru Kenyatta, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and NMS General Mohammed Badi.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and NMS General Mohammed Badi.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is set to lose another key function to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services led by General Mohamed Badi after Nairobi MCAs approved a motion tabled in the Assembly in early July 2020.

Sonko and Badi have been embroiled in a show of might with both leaders launching projects in Nairobi. On Tuesday, June 30, Badi impressed President Uhuru Kenyatta with his 100 days in office report, with Sonko bouncing later on to promise Nairobi residents more development and infrastructure projects. 

Nominated MCA June Ndegwa who tabled the motion is seeking to hand over payment of pending bills under the Finance docket to Badi's team, a matter which the Sonko administration vehemently opposes.  

MCAs accused Finance CEC Allan Igambi of being ineffective and biased and orchestrating delays in payment of pending bills.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko signs the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2020 on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko signs the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2020 on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
File

"It is outrageous that Nairobi County has a pending bill of Ksh9,800 owed to a supplier and dating back to 2019," Ndegwa proclaimed. 

She further detailed that the CEC was yet to pay Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic that has been stifling business.

The MCAs want Badi's team to take up the role and hasten payments. They also called for scrutiny of the pending bills.

Sonko's Communication Director Jacob Elkanah, however, hit back at the MCAs and asked them to exercise caution while discussing issues subject to the constitution.

"The Public Finance Management Act is very clear on Finance issues. Let the angry MCAs follow the due process on matters payment. That’s the work of the Finance department," Elkanah stated in a response to Kenyans.co.ke. 

The unprecedented transfer of deeds signed by Sonko has been a contentious issue ever since the Governor handed four counties functions to the National Government on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. 

The four duties Sonko handed over were Health, Transport, Public works and Planning, and Development Services. 

Sonko argued that he never read the details of the deed and contested it in court which declared it unlawful. On July 18, Justice Hellen Wasilwa gave the government 90 days to rectify the illegality failure to which any party will be at liberty to move the court for appropriate action.

From left: President Uhuru Kenyatta flags of Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) water trucks and ambulances at Harambee House as Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and NMS General Mohamed Badi watch on Tuesday, June 30, 2020
From left: President Uhuru Kenyatta flags of Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) water trucks and ambulances at Harambee House as Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and NMS General Mohamed Badi watch on Tuesday, June 30, 2020
PSCU
  • .