Treasury has finally released KSh 37.5 Billion to the County Government of Nairobi, providing relief to city dwellers who have been without critical services for months. This follows the appointment of Benson Mutura as the acting Governor of Nairobi.
Treasury has also released KSh 27.1 Billion that will be required to run the operations of Nairobi Metropolitan Services(NMS).
The impeachment of Governor Sonko comes after the Senate voted to him on four charges of gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office, misconduct, and crimes against national law.
Sonko was first kicked out by 88 members of the Nairobi County Assembly on December 3rd, 2020, when they voted to support the impeachment motion. Only two MCAs voted against this impeachment motion.
In what could drive Nairobi’s politics in the run-up to 2022 polls, Sonko was voted out by a group allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. This wing of the Jubilee party faced off with the Tanga tanga wing that oscillates around Deputy President William Ruto.
The war of words between Sonko and the NMS director attracted the Attorney General’s attention after Treasury said it could not release any funds until the money quarrels were resolved.
On 15th October 2020, the NMS Director Maj General Mohamed Abdalla Badi expressed his frustration of not paying NMS staff salaries.
The AG was asked to give a legal opinion at City Hall ruled that Sonko and Badi each cater for their owns pending bills and salaries of staff. Perhaps it is this resolution that prompted NMS to write to Treasury for further guidance on the matter.
NMS and City Hall had each drawn separate budgets for their staff.
While the Public Service Commission (PSC) transferred Health, Transport, Public Works, Utilities and Ancillary Works, Planning and Development to the NMS, the critical Finance Department remained with City Hall-thus frustrating any executions by NMS.
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