Kipchumba Murkomen, the Senate Majority Leader on Tuesday, May 5, took to the floor of the Senate to vehemently oppose the seconding of military officers to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Major General Mohammed Badi was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Director-General of the NMS following the transfer of 4 functions from the Mike Sonko-led county government in February.
On Monday, May 4, it emerged that seven more senior officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) had been seconded to the NMS, among them Brig F. Leuria, Major J.V Mbithi, Major A.N Nyakundi, Major J. K. Njoroge, Lt Col J.K.Biomdo and Major A.L. Musoma.
Murkomen asserted that he could not support the take-over of the capital city by military officers, claiming it was a gross violation of the constitution.
“As we speak, we know that Nairobi has been militarized, it is no longer a civilian government, something that I would never have imagined under the new constitution.
“The militarization of the civilian or county government is the worst form of violation and overturn of the constitution.
“Let it be known that I Kipchumba Murkomen, the Majority Leader of the Senate of Kenya, is never and will never be supportive of a military-run county called Nairobi. This house must call this government to order,” Murkomen asserted.
He called on his colleagues in the Senate to take a stand against the take-over by the city by the military.
The decision to second the officers was ratified by the Kenya Defence Council, a powerful organ of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), facilitating their deployment to the NMS.
So far, 6,852 employees of the Nairobi County Government have joined the NMS, as well as 32 senior officers from the national government.
His statement comes against the backdrop of a tussle between Governor Mike Sonko and the national government, with the governor moving to terminate the Deed of Transfer of Functions he signed.
Sonko had his security withdrawn by the national government after he refused to sign a bill releasing Ksh15 billion to the NMS to undertake the transferred functions.
Sonko maintained that the NMS was overstepping its mandate, claiming that they sought to take over functions that remained under the county government.
He further claimed that officials from the Office of the President were working with police in Nairobi to frustrate activities of his Sonko Rescue Team (SRT).
Sonko alleged that the officials were behind the vandalization of sanitizer booths erected in various parts of the city by the Sonko Rescue Team.
