The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has transferred its functions back to the County Government of Nairobi.
The ceremony which kicked off outside the Governor’s office Friday, started with Governor Johnson Sakaja inspecting a guard of honour mounted by the County Inspectorate Services, then signing of the Deed of Transfer that had been handed to the NMS to be taken over by the County Government of Nairobi.
During the event, Sakaja stated that the transfer of the key functions, which include Health, Transport and Planning back to the County Government of Nairobi would help a big deal in making Nairobi work.
“I want to commend the NMS led by Lt. General Badi for their good job despite challenges at the beginning and we will make sure that we maintain the projects they completed and finish those that are incomplete,” he said.
The governor pointed out that he is persuading his colleagues at the Council of Governors to ensure county assemblies are financially independent and can get their budget directly and not through the executive.
“I hope together with the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and the State Department of Devolution which will still exist, we will ensure that the county assemblies get their funding directly for counties to do their oversight,” Sakaja reiterated.
Speaking on matters of garbage collection, he stated that the County Government in the last one month has collected more than 54,000 tons of garbage with 2,100 tons being collected every day.
“Once the Members of the County Assembly pass the budget, the County Government is going to configure the method with which the county is going to be clean. Nairobi must be clean and sparkling,” he maintained.
Sakaja also stated that the County Government has started the re-carpeting of 22 roads, lighting up the Central Business District and will soon light up Ngong Road and many other places including informal settlements.
Sakaja added that the new County Government had a discussion with leadership of the Kenya Defense Forces to create a Memorandum of Understanding framework allowing the military to come to the county’s aid whenever needed.
“I am glad to announce that what used to be the filling station at Central garage will be revived within a month and the petrol station is going to operate where citizens are going to buy fuel at about five shillings less than commercial rates,” stated Sakaja.
Further, Sakaja assured workers of the county and those under the outgoing NMS that their work will be retained as he creates more opportunities for job creation.
In addition, he also pledged to sit down with all the informal traders of Nairobi and agree on how to organize their work.
Meanwhile, the Governor pointed out that the County Government is going to partner with the Private Sector to ensure they plant new trees in the city, some of which are palm trees which are going to be imported from Malaysia.
“We must return this city to its dignity as a green city under the sun that we knew as young people,” said Sakaja.
In attendance was Lt. General Badi, Attorney General Paul Kihara, former Devolution Minister Eugene Wamalwa, Nairobi Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri and Members of County Assembly.
By Emmanuel Kipkoech and Rita Muthoni
