This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
Published on December 14, 2019, Nairobi is one of the top cities in Africa, and its leadership crisis is a pressing concern.
As the city's financial hub, Nairobi's governance requires a clean administrator, not a drama queen. The city's complex needs cannot be met through comic displays and chest-thumping.
Mike Sonko's tenure has been marred by controversy, with allegations of thuggish tendencies, intimidation of county executives, and a cavalier style of governance. His refusal to nominate a deputy governor has left the county in a crisis, with no clear replacement in sight.
Legally, Nairobi MCAs can move to impeach Sonko, and the charges can be investigated by a Senate committee and upheld by a full Senate vote. Alternatively, the President can appoint a commission of inquiry to look into the matter, and the county government will stand suspended once the commission's recommendations are approved by the Senate.
The Executive, the Senate, and the MCAs must act swiftly to resolve the power vacuum in Nairobi, as the city deserves better than the circus it is undergoing.
