Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja says no taxpayers’ money was spent erecting billboards to welcome back city dwellers who had traveled upcountry for the holidays.
Sakaja responded on Thursday, December 5, after coming under fire from a section of social media users. Critics argued that the ‘Welcome Back’ billboards around the city were not a priority and that the money used to erect them should have been put to better use.
The billboards along Waiyaki Way, Thika Super Highway and Mombasa Road read; “Welcome back, prosperous 2023! Let’s make Nairobi work!”
Taking to Twitter Thursday, Governor Sakaja responded to a concerned tweeter who told him to focus on what Nairobians elected him to do.
“Lakini @SakajaJohnson even as we continue supporting you, just stop those cheap PR stunts. I hope you used your own money to pay for those “Welcome Back” billboards. Just do what you were elected to do, which is to fix Nairobi. PR na vipindiree achia Sonko,” tweeted @WachiraKE_.
Sakaja told Wachira that he used his own money to put up the billboards. He also responded to the criticism saying most Nairobians appreciated the gesture.
“Yes I used my own money. You may not like it, many appreciate it, ” the governor wrote.
Here are some tweets.
Yes I used my own money. You may not like it, many appreciate it.
— Sakaja Arthur Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) January 5, 2023
Am glad you used your own money. As to whether many Nairobi residents liked it, the jury is still out…
— Wachira 🇰🇪 (@WachiraKE_) January 5, 2023
No we appreciate kazi Safi ndio itakuwa a awesome welcome to Nairobi. Hiyo ndio PR Safi, siyo ma billboard hazina maana
— Luanda Magere (@Banta_baridi) January 5, 2023
Who is appreciating unless those contracted to print and mount them
— King Solomon (@MithamoAlfred) January 5, 2023
I appreciated the personalized text that you sent. For me it’s way better compared to the billboard.
— Dawkins Abila (@abiladawkins) January 5, 2023
😂watu wa weatern ilikua lazima tuone billboards buana 🥳🎉 thanks @SakajaJohnson tumerudi kujenga Nairobi yetu hit me up niko na ideas moto moto😁
— M🇰🇪OBEGI (@Jamesnd95287461) January 5, 2023
Of course we don’t like it, Fanya kazi. Nairobi is resembling one big garbage heap at the moment.
— Daily Pharmacist 🇰🇪🇰🇪 (@Leonmuigz) January 5, 2023
😂😂😂 mnafanya sakaja acatch
— Binama (@dannyraverz) January 5, 2023
Please clean up the city.
Not very capital.— S_Kay (@karu_sue) January 5, 2023
Safisha Nairobi avoid distraction plus politics… campaigns ziliisha
— Ajaka@oyiengo (@Ajakaoyiengo1) January 5, 2023
