This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
August 4, 2020, marked a significant development in the governance of Nairobi County as reports emerged of a plot to dissolve the county government. According to sources, the National Security Council (NSC), the highest security organ in the country, is set to consider the proposal to dissolve the county this week.
The move is reportedly driven by security threats and mismanagement within the county government. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i hinted at the dissolution last week, stating that the county assembly had turned into a 'battle zone' and was now a major security challenge. He announced that as a stopgap measure, he had asked Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai to investigate the number of gun holders in the assembly and immediately have them disarmed.
However, Governor Mike Sonko is aware of the plot and has rushed to court to forestall it by demanding the cancellation of the deal he signed with the government ceding some key functions. The case is ongoing. The threat to dissolve the county government comes at a time when the battle for control of the capital city between Sonko and Director-General of Nairobi Metropolitan Services Mohammed Badi has intensified.
The war between the two has exposed the tug-of-war between a politician eager to save face and a man on a mission to save the capital city from rot. Badi has downplayed threats by Sonko to withdraw from the agreement that saw NMS take control of key operations of the city. According to sources, those pushing for dissolution now argue that NMS is in place and delivering core services, hence no need to panic as before.
But the question remains: was NMS created to pave the way for the dissolution of the county government by President Uhuru Kenyatta?
