Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has said he will not allow tycoons in thecapital to take advantage of their wealth to oppress the poor byevicting them for their lands.
Sonko said President Uhuru himself has already issued a directive tostop demolition and eviction of residents from their lands.
He said he will ensure this directive is adhered to strictly.
Uhuru recently ordered a stop of evictions in the county that have inmost cases turned violent and fatal.
Sonko said the evictions mostly target the vulnerable members of thecommunity, who include slum dwellers.
He said 75 per cent of the Nairobi population is made up of peopleliving in informal settlement and allowing them to be harassed bytycoons is akin to killing the very people who entrusted him withleadership of the county.
“I will be the first to die before you are evicted. We don’t want thatnonsense. God knows why you are living in slums. It is not yourchoice,” said Sonko amid cheers from the Muslim faithful.
He said residents in Kibera, Kosovo, Korogocho, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, areboth Muslims and Christians and must all be respected.
He spoke on Wednesday during an iftar he hosted for the Muslimfaithful at City Hall.
Mohamed Swalihu, an Imam Jamia Mosque, lauded Sonko for his efforts todefend and protect the poor and vulnerable in the society, saying itis a God-given duty.
“We are ready to support you come what may. You have transformedNairobi so quickly in few months in office. This is why you resonatewell with the poor and the vulnerable. You are their saviour sent byGod,” said Swalihu.
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supreme) director general Abdullatif
Shaaban said they support Sonko.
“You have vehemently fought this great disease of corruption, whichkills the poor mostly. We salute you on that,” said Shabaan.
Embakasi South MP Julius Mawathe said Sonko does not do publicrelations exercises.
“You have been with people. You have fought and cried for them in abig way. Actually you have an injury in your left leg because of Sinaifire tragedy where at least over 100 people lost their lives.
You havedone it again for Mukuru Kwa Njenga residents,” said Mwathe.
Thousands of Muslim faithful attended the iftar dinner.
Meanwhile, Sonko lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for ordering releaseof imported goods held at Inland Container Depot in Embakasi.
However, Sonko said more should be done to ensure the country is not adumping site for counterfeit and sub-standards goods.
“In an effort to promote our manufacturing industry as part of the BigFour, we must put in place extra measures to ensure we promote our ownproducts by preventing counterfeits from getting into our country,”said Sonko.
President Uhuru earlier this week made an impromptu inspection of theICD after the business community complained of delays in clearing oftheir goods.
Uhuru said the clearing process should be hastened to avoid congestion.