Sonko in outburst over ‘blackmail’ in running Nairobi City finances
“They can jail me but there is life in prison, they can impeach me but there is also life after politics, they can even kill me but there is life after death, where my father is resting in peace and even the founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta is also resting.”
These were the words of embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) with which he is locked in a battle for the running of the county’s affairs.
In an all-out attack, Sonko said he not will cede any authority or coin to Director-General Mohammed Badi led-NMS, claiming the outfit is amorphous and illegal.
No to intimidation
According to Governor, he will not bow to any intimidation, blackmail or threats to his life by what he termed as “powers from above” to release exchequer and donor funds running into billion of shillings held at the Central Bank of Kenya account to NMS.
“The dark days are over, we will not allow anybody to breach the law, and personally going forward, I will not allow any intimidation or blackmail from anyone,” the Governor warned.
“The law is very clear, let’s follow the law, and legalise NMS that is when we will give them money.”
Citing a letter dated October 15, Treasury CS Ukur Yattani, Sonko insisted that there lacks a legal framework to transfer Nairobi City County Government funds to the NMS currently domiciled in the Executive office of the President.
“If the CS is scared of giving them money, who I am to do so,” he asked.
Sonko’s tirade comes weeks after he issued a string of social media posts directed at President Uhuru Kenyatta, terming him ‘Super Nairobi Governor and a dictator who does not believe in the Constitution.’
The governor spoke yesterday) when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health to shed light on outstanding issues relating to the transfer of the health function to NMS.
NMS had accused City Hall of withholding and refusing to surrender upto Sh253 million meant to benefit health centres across the City.
According to NMS director for Health Services, Dr Josephine Kibaru- Mbae, the monies were meant to benefit level two and three hospitals are still held by the county and the signatories to the account have not been changed to officers of NMS mandated to execute the function of health.
However, Sonko has sensationally claimed that National Treasury has colluded with the NMS officials to block his officers from accessing the millions donated to his government as grants by international partners.
“They have blocked us and denied my officers IFMIS codes that would have been enabled us access the money,” he told the committee chaired by Trans Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito.
