This archive report was first published on 9 July 2021.
Anne Kananu's Six-Month Tenure as Nairobi Governor: A Record of Lacklustre Performance ¶
Acting Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu has continued the record set by her predecessors at the helm of City Hall - that of lacklustre performance. In the nearly six months that she has headed the Nairobi County government, her presence is yet to be felt by Nairobians.
Ms Kananu took over in January 2021, and her major achievement has been unveiling the new Francis Atwoli Road in Kileleshwa after renaming it from Dik Dik Road. The unveiling was in May, and she explained it was after "my good friend and brother bwana (Cotu secretary-general) Francis Atwoli in recognition of his selfless contribution and agitating for the rights of Kenyan workers in the last 54 years".
However, the former Disaster Management and Coordination chief officer's in-tray at City Hall has been full of accompanying other leaders launching their projects, paying courtesy calls, attending burials or being a guest speaker at events.
Ms Kananu's busy schedule has seen her accompany President Uhuru Kenyatta to various events, including the inspection of the expanded government facility at the National Cargo Deconsolidation Centre (NCDC-Nairobi) on February 10. She also accompanied the President to the unveiling of the Uthiru Level Three Hospital on February 12.
On February 24, she announced that City Hall had entered into a partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya to put up a world-class sports facility at the Muhuri Muchiri Grounds in Ruai, Nairobi. The partnership was aimed at enhancing Nairobi's preparedness for disasters.
Ms Kananu's schedule has been filled with attending various events, including the launch of free early childhood development education (ECDE) funds, amounting to Sh80 million, to benefit more than 30,000 pupils enrolled in 232 ECDE centres in Nairobi on March 16.
Despite her busy schedule, Nairobi County leaders are at pains to point to anything she has achieved since she took over. Most of the elected leaders we reached out to were wary of being quoted in the story because of the "ongoing uncertainty in the political landscape".
Ms Kananu has not responded to our calls since June 14, with her communication chief saying we will have to wait until she is ready to respond. "She (Ms Kananu) is not able to give you a response now but I will tell you when she is ready to do the same," said Communication Director Beryl Okundi on July 6.
Waithaka MCA Anthony Kiragu said the only achievement Ms Kananu can proudly point to is the renaming of Dik Dik Road.
