President Kenyatta delivers stern message to JP leaders
President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses elected Jubilee Nairobi leaders at State House, Nairobi, on August 19, 2017. He told them to transform the lives of residents. PHOTO | WILLIAM OERI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Kenyatta said time has come for elected leaders to put in place policies that would facilitate better governance.
- Mr Sonko said the leaders will work to implement Jubilee’s transformative agenda and improve services.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has told Nairobi Jubilee Party leaders that they must avoid squabbles and deliver real change to the residents.
During his meeting with the elected leaders - from Governor-elect down to MCAs-elect, the President said resolving the city's challenges was why they were voted in.
"Nairobians want to see efficient garbage collection, clean water, and better traffic flow.
"In short, they want to see a rapid and significant improvement in service delivery," Mr Kenyatta said at State House on Saturday.
PUBLIC TRUST
He congratulated the politicians for their victories but warned them that the public's confidence in them will be eroded if they fail to deliver.
"Most of you have been elected for the first time, don’t allow power to get into your head.
"I have seen many taking that route and they failed. Wananchi are our bosses and that’s why we want to change Nairobi for the benefit of wananchi," he added.
DEVELOPMENT
He said Jubilee leaders need to work as a team to transform the city.
"We want to change Nairobi, not for the benefit of leaders, and not for the benefit of the few who are able to make it on their own.
"But for the majority who depend on us to change their lives."
VOTE
Mr Kenyatta said time has come for elected leaders to put in place policies that would facilitate better governance.
The President observed that Kenyans now understand the power of a vote and if leaders fail to deliver then they might not get re-elected.
He urged them to continue preaching peace and unity.
PETITION
Nairobi Governor-elect Mike Mbuvi Sonko, who led the team, said now that Jubilee won majority seats in Nairobi, the leaders will work to implement Jubilee’s transformative agenda and improve services.
Mr Sonko also took a swipe at Nasa over the election petitioned they filed at the Supreme Court on Friday that challenges Mr Kenyatta's victory.
"We don’t understand why Nasa is saying the election was stolen. If you look at Nairobi we won the majority seats from Members of County Assembly to members of Parliament," Mr Sonko said.
"Nairobi has been under opposition leadership for long but for the first time it is now under the ruling party," he added.
VICTORY
Others present were Senator-elect Johnson Sakaja and Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan Abdi.
They pledged to work together to deliver quality services to the residents.
"We will support our governor without any problem to ensure quality services to Nairobi residents," Mr Abdi said.
In the August 8 election, Jubilee won nine parliamentary seats and 46 ward positions.
