The government wrote to embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko with new directives, a few days after his impeachment motion was tabled by MCAs and made a follow up on the orders a day after he was impeached on Thursday, December 3.
Treasury CS Ukur Yatani directed Sonko to immediately release funds to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Yatani stated that he had created a new legal framework that will allow and guide Sonko to transfer funds to rescue NMS from plight. The agency is cash-starved and employees are yet to receive their salaries.
In September 2020, the CS had declined to authorise the transfer of funds as requested by NMS boss General Mohamed Badi. Yatani, at the time, argued that there was no legal framework to facilitate such a transaction.
He added that the funds could only be released to the Nairobi County Government (NCCG) Revenue Fund Account, not to the NMS.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to forward to you the framework and request you to ensure adherence to the requirements," Yatani stated.
The war with NMS was reportedly one of the main reasons for Sonko's impeachment.
The governor declined to sign the Ksh 37.5 billion county government’s budget which had allocated Ksh 27.1 billion to the NMS.
Yatani commented on the issue and urged Sonko to sign the budget as soon as possible.
"They took all the money that was meant for our children and education. Let them take what is for them and let us have our funds as we still have projects to run and we are still in politics," Sonko had stated before he was impeached.
The Governor has not yet responded to Yatani as he is focused on saving his job. His impeachment case was forwarded to the Senate which will decide his fate.
If sent home, Nairobi County Speaker Benson Mutura will take over for 90 days before a by-election is conducted. Mutura is expected to work in tandem with NMS and aid President Uhuru Kenyatta in securing his legacy.
