Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has received rare support from a lobby group comprising of Matatu owners, boda-boda operators, hawkers and Jua-Kali artisans.
The group, “Friends of Nairobi City County”, in addition to defending the governor’s performance, urged the government to reinstate his withdrawn bodyguards.
Ken Onyango, Chairman of the Boda Boda association of Kenya, said: “In this Cit,y there are forces that want to make sure that Governor Mike Sonko does not work. The government should safeguard the life of our Governor before it’s too late.”
Onyango observed that the Governor had formed powerful enemies by dismantling cartels and automating most revenue collection streams.
Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) chairman, Dickson Mbugua urged the public to give Sonko at least a year before criticising him as he is only six months into the job.
Mbugua acknowledged that there were efforts by the Governor in revenue collection which had ensured City Hall collected approximately Sh17 million daily.
He, however, called for the inclusion of Matatu owners in the regeneration programme meant to decongest the City.
“The bus termini set up by the County as alternative stages should be used as holding grounds where commuters can then walk or take a cheap mode of transport into the central business district,” stated Mbugua.
Former Mayor and coordinator of the lobby group, Joe Akech noted that Sonko gets blamed for everything that is wrong with the city.
“Everything that happens nowadays is blamed on Sonko and this should stop. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the City moves forward,” he said, adding that the business community should work in harmony with the governor to ensure the Nairobi’s prosperity.
The group has also proposed a County clean-up day each and every month to deal with the garbage menace.
On flying to Rwanda for a benchmarking tour, Akech revealed that plans were still in place to have 300 boda-boda riders, hawkers, Matatu operators and Juakali artisans fly out to Kigali.
They are expected to attend a symposium where each sector would be trained on the best practises with a view to implementing them in Nairobi.
The trip is scheduled for next month and will last four days.
“If Michuki transformed the Matatu sector then we can also inculcate the lessons learnt from Rwanda to transform Nairobi and regain our lost glory as the best in Africa,” he added.
