Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has accused powerful figures within President William Ruto’s government of making calculated moves to benefit from the County of Nairobi.
According to the governor, the individuals within and close to the national government are attempting to take control of key county functions.
Sakaja explained that garbage collection and disposal, water collection and supply, and road construction are the key functions that the powerful figures within Ruto’s administration want to benefit from.
“No, we have not ceded any function; transfer of function is provided under the law, Article 187 of the constitution,” Sakaja explained, speaking at NTV.
He explained that the only transfer that has occurred during his time in office has been from the National government to the County government.
Sakaja and the president are discussing Nairobi’s support based on the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Section 6, about the services in the capital city.
The Urban Areas and Cities Act states that a special arrangement must be made and a framework established through which the national government can engage with the County.
Support from the National government is intended to enhance collaboration, not to surrender control.
Nairobi County, being the capital city of Kenya, requires all the support from the National government for development and growth.
The first-term governor explained that the public lashes out without understanding whether a function belongs to the County or the national government.
He went further to accuse unnamed political players of amplifying the narrative of a takeover, stating that he had fought 10 times in the Senate over revenue distribution.
“The distribution of revenue fight was due to Nairobi being give small amount of Ksh100 million from the capital, and that things needed to be sorted out at a higher level.”
Also Read: Headteacher Demoted for Resisting Sakaja`s Chapati Program
“People pushing for the agenda of the County transferring the power to the president have no evidence that a transfer did indeed happen,” he added.
Sakaja claimed that they have a political interest in Nairobi, which has more than 10% of the voters and is the largest city in Kenya to vie for, apart from the presidency.
Sakaja stated that until the governor has signed a deed of transfer and the National government has signed it, there is no transfer under the law.
Also Read: Sakaja Responds to Taking Over Nairobi Key Functions
Transfer of functions and powers between levels of government
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