Sonko Likens Badi to Saddam Hussein in Outburst [VIDEO]

A collage of NMS Director General Mohammed Badi and the late President of Iran Saddam Hussein
A collage of NMS Director General Mohammed Badi and the late President of Iran Saddam Hussein
File

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Tuesday, August 11 likened Nairobi Metropolitan Services Director General Mohammed Badi to the late Saddam Hussein.

Saddam was the president of Iraq (1979–2003) whose brutal rule was marked by costly and unsuccessful wars against neighbouring countries and was sentenced to death by hanging, after being convicted of crimes against humanity.

Speaking at the funeral of the late Gabriel Maina, a resident of Mukuru Kwa Reuben slums who died during the demolition of houses in the area, the governor spared no words for the general who took over his functions. 

“So General Badi, please, we have lost one person. I am in pain for his soul. The county government promises to ensure the family of the deceased is compensated. Let us not play politics with peoples’ lives.

{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/_WwDTJhJ3HY.jpg?itok=p8mmguY6","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}

“To the people saying I don’t respect the NMS, I just want to tell that Saddam Hussein to respect the lives of Nairobians,” Sonko stated. 

He said that he would support the NMS if they focused on the development of infrastructure in Nairobi.

Acknowledging the huge work that needed to be done to improve the quality of life in the city, he welcomed Badi to partner with the county government.

Sonko explained that voters too have powers and are watching, overseeing the roles played by every leader.

"There will be no problem as long as we all recognize that we have laws that govern our operations and we can hold high respect to one another and the rights of the people who put us in office," he noted.

He said he was aware of the projects the president wants accomplished in Nairobi, among them; affordable housing units, the sewer system in Mukuru Kwa Reuben, Kibra, Uthiru, Kariobangi and other slum areas.

After the funeral service, Sonko donated car-washing machines and water tanks to youth groups from Ruai, Mukuru Kwa Reuben and Nairobi CBD as earlier promised.

“In order to create income-generating opportunities for the jobless youth in Nairobi, my team will continue with the mashinani tour to boost youth groups economically amid the Coronavirus pandemic which has rendered many productive individuals unemployed,” he stated.

The governor and the NMS DG have been engaging in a war of words that has also culminated into a fight for projects, control of Nairobi County Assembly and the city.

Their issue was forwarded to the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) for arbitration.

On Thursday, August 6, IGRTC acting Chairperson John Burugu affirmed that the two would sit down to discuss the issue which is affecting the delivery of services in Nairobi. 

Sonko has claimed numerous times that NMS is an illegal entity and has a pending case in court.

The resignation of Beatrice Elachi as Nairobi County Assembly speaker further complicates the county government leadership crisis.

Sonko has been operating without a deputy governor since Polycarp Igathe resigned in 2018.

  • . . . . .