Mike Sonko, the Nairobi Governor on Wednesday, April 29 gave the clearest signal yet that he would indeed be terminating the deed of transfer of functions he signed with the national government.
A letter from County Secretary Justus Kathenge to the National Treasury revealed that Sonko had directed him not to release any documents or information to facilitate the hand-over process as he had begun the process of terminating the deal.
“This is to inform you that I am under firm and clear instructions from His Excellency the Governor as Chief Executive Officer of Nairobi City County Government not to provide any related information. This is due to consistent and persistent breach of the terms of the Deed of Transfer (DOT) of Functions.
“Be informed that H.E the Governor has initiated the process of pulling out of the arrangement to revert the functions back to Nairobi City County,” the letter read in part.
The National Treasury had sought access to documents relating to key transferred functions including the Transport, Health, Planning and Development and Public Works departments.
The development is sure to pose yet another challenge for Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director-General Major General Mohammed Badi, and his team.
This is after Sonko refused to assent to a bill releasing Ksh15 billion to the NMS for the transferred functions to be undertaken.
After a meeting that involved State House officials and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) on Friday, April 24, the governor had part of his security withdrawn as was confirmed to Kenyans.co.ke on Monday, April 27.
“Yes, the security was withdrawn thus putting His Excellency the Governor’s life in danger. He is still the Governor and should be accorded maximum respect,” he noted in a brief statement.
Sonko had claimed that some government officials were out to sabotage his administration and take over all functions including those that had not been transferred.
He also accused government officials and the police of being behind the destruction of sanitizer booths erected by his Sonko Rescue Team.
“Those haters in the Office of the President who are convincing the president ati the transfer of functions deeds has brought my administration and political life to an end wameze wembe na wasage glass wakunywe (should swallow a razor blade, grind glass and drink it). I still have a political life and I must finish and launch all my development projects.
“They’re just talking of article 187 but not what it says towards the end in 187 2(b). 187 2(b) constitutional responsibility for the performance of the function or exercise of the power shall remain with the government to which it is assigned by the Fourth Schedule,” the Governor wrote on social media on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.
