This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
On June 7, 2020, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's cabinet was put to the test as General Badi's Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) took charge of revitalizing the city.
During the 2017 Nairobi County gubernatorial contest, Governor Sonko's campaign team was led by the articulate Onchari Oyieyo, a US-schooled political analyst and strategist. However, upon assumption of office, Sonko picked a new cabinet, which included Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe and several other ministers.
Despite his popularity as a shrewd politician and compassionate leader, Governor Sonko's cabinet has been criticized for being ineffective. Insiders have revealed that the governor got frustrated with his cabinet's performance but chose to accommodate them due to their connections in the national government.
General Badi's NMS has taken the lead in revitalizing the city, with notable projects including the redesigning of Kenyatta Avenue to create walk-ways and bike lanes, and the rapid carpeting of city roads and patching of potholes in the CBD.
It is worth noting that leaders from the national government interfered with the appointment of County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) in Nairobi County, which contributed to the cabinet's mediocre performance.
As the governor gets blamed for the confusion in the county, none of his unknown CECMs are getting any of the blame. Instead, the most visible faces that have been seen defending him repeatedly on television are the ones taking the kicks.
Onchari Oyieyo, Governor Sonko's political advisor, has to defend himself every minute from Nairobians who argue that he misled the governor. One wonders whether or not this youthful fellow was advising the governor and if so, why he did not advise the governor not to hire people he barely knew into his cabinet.
