City MPs, Sonko clash over county funds expenditure

 By Anthony Mwangi and Bernard Gitau

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko yesterday engaged in a  war of words with eight Nairobi MPs who had demanded a comprehensive audit of all monies allocated to his government.

The lawmakers want to establish how the billions of shillings allocated to the county over the last two financial years have been spent.

“We have given notice that we shall be pursuing all available avenues to enable a comprehensive governance audit and forensic audit of all monies allocated to the Nairobi City County Government to the last penny,” they said in a statement read by Senator Johnstone Sakaja.

 The MPs said they will form a collaborative leadership forum with fellow elected city leaders  to deliberate on issues affecting the electorate. 

“As elected leaders it is expected of us to speak out and  we cannot sit back and watch as our beloved county sinks further into an abyss of mismanagement, corruption and impunity,” read the statement.

Those present included, Sakaja, Nixon Korir (Langata), John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North), George Aladwa (Makadara) and Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands).   But in a rejoinder,  Sonko outlined development projects which he said his administration had successfully completed in the last two years.

“My administration has completed projects in infrastructure, health sector, disaster management, education and sports, environment, sanitation and water. We have also achieved a lot in beatification, improved the transport sector, ICT installation of data centres among many more,” he said. 

Sonko said he read mischief and malice in the attack by the MPs, which he claimed was  part of a scheme to destabilise Nairobi county.

Receive support

The governor received support from Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi, some MCAs and county executive committee members. Elachi commended Sonko for reducing the county’s pending bills from Sh60 billion to Sh23 billion.

“The MPs, whom we consider to be national leaders should work to ensure that the national government offsets the Sh100 billion it owes Nairobi county instead of attacking the governor who has tried his best,” she said.

The MCAs led by Ruai Ward Rep John Kamangu,  who is  also Deputy Speaker, accused Sakaja of failing in his oversight duty and blackmailing governor for favours.

But the eight  legislators claimed anarchy and disorder reigns supreme at the City Hall, while services to Nairobi  residents had ground to a halt.

Further, the MPs want all medical machines and equipment purchased under the national-county governments procurement agreement accounted for, and which hospitals had benefited.

• Mike Sonko