Sonko should show his mettle now that he is city’s governor

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is a drama queen—given to punching walls, doing public push-ups, clowning in the streets of Europe and a colourful turn of phrase rarely matched in Kenyan politics.

His rise in city politics is partly because of the appeal of that dramatic personality and a natural empathy for the poor and the suffering.

I have no problem with him dedicating his tenure to serving whatever constituency he regards himself as representing.

But there are many things waiting for Governor Sonko to do, huge expectations to satisfy.

Before he gets swamped by all these competing demands and the weight of his big job, however, there are preliminaries that he ought to take care of.

The first order of business is to ask the National Audit Office to carry out a special audit of the county’s finances, tracing collection of revenue and its expenditure over the past five years.

SH900 MILLION

We have had city officers who had Sh900 million in their accounts. Whose money was that?

We expect the audit to end in asset recovery and prosecution. As Nairobi’s senator, he used to walk around with files detailing wrongdoing.

This is his opportunity to actually act on the plunder he talked about and lead recovery of assets.

The audit should cover—thoroughly—the grabbing of land. The governor ought to publish a list of all property in the city whose leases have expired in the past five years and their status of renewal, including change of ownership.

Where the new owners are companies, he should disclose the beneficial owners of those companies.

Secondly, he ought to see to the cleaning of the city. Usually, City Hall cleaners come to work and are very active towards the end of the month so that they can be seen to be working and, therefore, be paid.

GARBAGE

The governor needs to ensure garbage is collected, streets cleaned and buildings repainted. He should see to the restoration of gardens and the city’s vegetation.

He should also set out a policy explaining how he will clean the air, including getting rid of smoking jalopies, and decongest the streets.

We expect the city county government to rationalise parking, so that there are designated bus stops away from the thoroughfares.

The endless lines of poorly maintained matatus choking Moi Avenue should be cleared.

Agenda number three: The governor should, without further delay, clean Nairobi River, restore Michuki Gardens and prosecute those folks dumping rubbish and effluent into the river.

This is an absolute priority. If the city needs resources such as manpower, call us out. We will come with our children and, if need be, raise money for hiring the equipment.

DESTITUTE CHILDREN

Fourth, all these destitute children living in the streets must be given a home. It is not right that we should retire to our comfortable homes while children are sleeping in the cold streets.

The previous governments used to cheat us that they had taken them for rehabilitation in institutions that are incomplete.

The governor ought to, as an emergency, complete those centres and provide schooling, drug treatment facilities and help for these children.

Again, if the city wishes to set up a separate fund for that, many residents will help.

The tragedy of Kenya is that, quite often, folks who don’t give a hoot about people go into leadership; they are there to satisfy their damaged egos and line their pockets.

That’s why leaders con their way into office, proceed to loot public resources, including those meant to aid the poor, and carry on as if they were the greatest thing since Mahatma Gandhi.

MOTORCYCLES

We have an obligation to call out these sick people and to punish them for betraying the public trust and for the damage they cause.

Finally, the governor should rid the city of these cursed motorcycles. I am sure he is already infected with the fallacy that motorcycle riders are “investors” or “business people” who have a right to earn a living.

There is no such thing. If there were a market for boiled goat heads, and I have children to feed, should I then set up shop in front of City Hall and proceed to “earn a living”?

Your right to earn a living does not mean that you put your life and that of others at risk, or inconvenience and be a total nuisance to others.

A visit to any hospital will cure any silly notions that motorcycles are a “cheap” means of transport. How does it sound paying Sh50 to get a cracked skull, scalded thighs and a broken back?

Motorcycles are a very expensive affair in terms of pain, loss of earnings and livehood for passengers injured and the burden to the healthcare system. They are also not a practical or civilised means of transport.

Show us what you can do, Mr Governor.

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