The Nairobi County Assembly through its speaker Beatrice Elachi has resubmitted the Nairobi City County Supplementary Appropriation Bill to Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko for signing without any changes.
Sonko on Wednesday, April 15, declined to assent to the bill to allocate more than Ksh15 billion to the newly established Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) for transferred functions.
On Friday, April 17, following a special seating by the Nairobi County Assembly discussed Sonko's reasons for failing to sign the bill and resubmitted it for signing as per the constitution.
According to a highly placed source in the County who sought anonymity, Mike Sonko is expected to respond to the letter on Monday, April 20.
It, however, remains unclear whether Sonko will sign the bill that will transfer functions to the NMS.
Sonko has been outsmarted with the bill set to become law after the lapse of 14 days now that the bill has been passed again by the assembly, according to section 24 of the County Assembly's Act.
A section of the letter sent to Sonko read, "The Assembly at its special sitting held on 17th April 2020, considered your reservations on the Bill.
"Accordingly, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 185 of the Constitution, section 24 of the County Governments Act, 2012 Standing Order 146 of the Nairobi City County Assembly Standing Order do hereby resubmit for your assent."
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina tweeted his reaction to Elachi's move, "The speaker cannot decline to accept a memorandum from a Governor rejecting supplementary appropriation bills! Our dishonesty will destroy this county! This power struggles must come to an end!."
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. replied to Olekina's tweet by saying, "What happens when a speaker is out of order and appears not to know the LAW."
Sonko and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) have been engaged in a feud since President Uhuru Kenyatta officially handed over the running of key functions to the body on Wednesday, March 18.
The Governor noted that the bill needed amendments as it contravened provisions of the law and that the assembly irregularly transferred and allocated money to the bill.
On Thursday, April 2, Nairobi MCAs approved the transfer of more than Ksh15 billion to the NMS for the delivery of transferred functions to the new office.
The President appointed Maj-Gen Mohamed Abdalla Badi the Director-General of NMS is to be deputized by Physical Planning PS Enosh Onyango Momanyi.
The four key functions assigned to the team were health, transport, planning and development, and public works and utilities.
