Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, on Wednesday, April 26, revealed that his administration had devised a new strategy to handle pending bills.
In a media interview, Sakaja announced that his administration would only contract different businessmen for services and goods the county can afford to pay.
He insisted that county coffers would influence decisions regarding acquiring goods and services through the procurement process.
Defending the new move, Sakaja noted that it was key to addressing the issue of auctions targeting businessmen who made various deals with the County Government of Nairobi..
"It is so heartbreaking seeing people being auctioned because they had acquired loans to provide certain services and goods to the county due to pending bills.
"During my tenure, there will be no pending bills. We will only contact what we can afford to pay. It is better not to give them the tenders than failing to pay them," Sakaja insisted.
However, the first-time governor disclosed that State House would enumerate businessmen who worked with the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). He explained that the entity was listed under State House in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime.
County Revenues
Sakaja revealed that his administration had increased its revenue by Ksh673 million. He attributed the positive growth to unified revenue collection channels.
"January to March 2023, compared to January to March 2022, I have increased Nairobi revenue by Ksh673 million," Sakaja revealed.
According to Sakaja, revenue collected from hawkers and other traders contributed to the growth of county revenue. He, however, vowed to expedite the allocation of trading zones to address hawkers congestion in Nairobi's Central Business District.
"We have registered 6,000 hawkers in Nairobi CBD. The hawkers are seeking spaces within the city because they are targeting residents. They want to sell them various products before they board various matatus.
"To address that situation, we have started earmarking special zones in Nairobi where hawkers would sell their products."
He also vowed to address looming conflict over hawkers selling similar products with businessmen occupying various premises within Nairobi CBD.
