Nairobi City Governor Mike Sonko has issued orders to cancel procurement of official vehicles for top county officials.
Sonko says the Sh400 million budget allocated for the purchase of top range vehicles in the 2019/2020 financial year will now be diverted for the purchase of ambulances for Nairobi County health centers, construction of roads and regeneration of Nairobi River.
The Governor has said for the interest of Nairobi residents, there is need to allocate more funds for development projects rather than purchase of vehicles for the Nairobi City County Government officials.
“City Hall has enough vehicles to serve county officials for the next financial year. There is no need to allocate millions of funds to purchase brans new vehicles yet we can reallocate vehicles to our departments to ensure we continue serving Nairobians without hitch,” said Sonko.
Speaking during the 46th World Environment Day that was held at the Railway Training Institute in South B estate, Starehe Sub-County, Sonko said the budget will now be reallocated for the purchase of ambulances for Nairobi County health centers, construction and rehabilitation of roads and regeneration of Nairobi River.
Sonko’s administration has so far constructed 96 kilometers of roads since taking over as Nairobi Governor in August 2017 and Sonko wants this to be doubled in the 2019/2020 financial year, while the cleaning of Nairobi River and it’s tributaries is already ongoing.
The Governor has also ordered for commencement of legal process against county officials who were involved in the embezzlement of bursary funds in the 2018/2019 financial year.
“I want all county officials who were part of the team that conspired to divert Sh60 million meant for the bursary funds to face the law. I have directed County Secretary Pauline Kahiga and County Attorney Christine Ireri to start legal process to ensure those involved in the scandal are prosecuted,” he said.
In his speech Sonko hailed NEMA for enforcing the ban on plastic bags but he called on the organization to consider extending the ban to plastic bottles.
“Plastic materials contribute to a large percentage of the waste that accumulates in the capital city. A ban on the bottles will help us a lot in terms of cleaning the city. I also would like to urge manufacturers to produce materials that are biodegradable and have less hazardous effects on the environment,” added Sonko.
The event was attended by top county officials, UNEP representatives led by Dr. Cyrille-Lazare Siewe, Coordinator, UNEP Kenya Country Programme, NEMA administrators, Ministry of Environment executives and dozens of Nairobi City County Assembly MCAs led by South B Ward MCA Waithera Chege.
In her speech, Chege called on Sonko to take stern action on those involved in diversion of water from Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company to ensure Nairobi residents enjoy uninterrupted supply of water.
Sonko vowed to ensure those involved in the water shortage in the capital city thorough diversion of eater are arrested and prosecuted.
“We have information on some of the cartels diverting water in order to benefit their water bowsers. This has to come to an end,” warned Sonko.
