This archive report was first published on 27 April 2020.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has protested the withdrawal of about 20 drivers and guards that were attached to his office by Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
According to Sonko, he woke up on April 26 to find none of the drivers and guards from the City Inspectorate attached to his office, leaving him with only bodyguards.
The drivers were moved to other departments by NMS in an effort to streamline operations, with NMS placing an advert in local dailies listing the names of staff who were moved and ordering them to report to new workstations on April 27.
Sonko expressed his shock at the move, stating, "I'm the governor of the city but I am shocked to find all my county drivers and guards have been moved... and this leaves me exposed," he said.
He added, "If I have to leave my office or home, I will have to drive myself. All the drivers and askaris attached to my office have been recalled."
Sonko has had a frosty relationship with NMS over the redeployment of 6,000 City Hall workers, and has threatened to withdraw his signature from a Deed of Transfer that saw key functions moved to the national government, citing that the move did not transfer the askaris who work under the City Inspectorate.
