Sonko Hands Over Nairobi County to State House

Functions of Nairobi County Government have been handed over to the National Government pursuant to Article 187 of the Constitution as per statement sent to newsrooms by State House Kanze Dena.

In a land mark agreement signed at State House today (Tuesday) , embattled Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa in concurrence with President Uhuru Kenyatta, signed an agreement, handing over functions of the Nairobi County Government to the National Government, pursuant to Article 187 of the Constitution.

The signing of the agreement was also witnessed by the Speaker of the Senate, Hon. Kenneth Lusaka and the Attorney General Paul Kihara.

The National Government, therefore, will take over the following functions of the Nairobi County Government:

i) County Health services
ii) County Transport services
iii) County Public Works, Utilities and Ancillary services
iv) County Government Planning and Development

This will ensure Nairobi residents receive services efficiently.

The move comes as a breakthrough in the running of county services that had ground to a halt.

On Tuesday, Speaker Beatrice Elachi gave Sonko until Monday at 10.00 am to submit written replies to the allegations raised in the notice of motion on impeachment.

The County Assembly Speaker directed the clerk to serve Sonko with the notice of motion.

At the same time, members of the public have been requested to submit written memoranda regarding the matter.

On February 22, Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok tabled a notice to impeach Sonko, accusing him of among other accounts, violating the constitution and abuse of office.

Impeachment talk has been rife since Sonko was arrested in December and charged with irregular procurement and payment of over Sh357 million.

He was also barred from accessing his City Hall office.

The minority side, comprising NASA-ODM county assembly members, ignited the impeachment saying the county needs to move on, not to be on a standstill because of one man’s mistake.

Just a week ago, Sonko was charged afresh in the Ksh.357 million graft case against him after the prosecution substituted an earlier charge sheet with a new one.

The prosecution, in the new charge sheet, removed three names of accused persons and one company – Danson Muchemi, Zablon Onyango and Webtribe Limited – thereby leaving Sonko and three others.

The prosecution also indicated to the court that there are other witnesses who will be put under witness protection and urged the court to use pseudo names in their statements and give evidence in a closed-door session.

The defence team however objected and urged the prosecution to make a formal application and argue it.

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