DP Ruto Differs with Murkomen Over Management of Nairobi

Deputy President, William Ruto, on Wednesday, threw his weight behind the move by Nairobi governor Mike Sonko, to hand over the administration of Nairobi county, to the national government.

Under the surprise move, Sonko’s government would cease being responsible for the City’s health, transport, planning, and public works functions, a decision he stated was reached after several benchmarking sessions with other cities around the world.

”From these case studies, we established that cities and metropolis the size of Nairobi are best served jointly by devolved units and Central Governments,” Sonko said in a Thursday statement.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka watch as Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and Governor Mike Sonko sign an agreement transferring Nairobi county functions, State House, February 26, 2020.

In a late-night tweet, the deputy head of state asserted that the government had noted with concern, the failed state of the Capital’s management, and that the decision had not been arrived at haphazardly.

”HE the President met with CoG & IBEC chairs in consultation with other actors to facilitate the agreements signed,” Ruto stated.

”All actors should support this effort to ensure our city functions,” he added, sharply contrasting the views of his close ally, Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen on the national government taking control of Nairobi.

On Wednesday, Murkomen announced that he would challenge the transfer of Nairobi county functions to the national government, terming it as a ”weighty matter that requires deep reflection.”

In his submission to Senate, the legislator, who is part of the legal team representing the Nairobi county head in court in his Ksh. 357 million graft case, termed the new Nairobi-management arrangement as unconstitutional.

On Thursday, the senator also went on a rampage against the Daily Nation, over an article on his opinion of Sonko’s and Uhuru’s deal.

He took issue with the publication demeaning his stature, while dragging him into it’s ‘war’ against Ruto.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *