This evening just after Nairobi County speaker Beatrice Elachi gave embattled Governor a one week ultimatum to defend himself before an impeachment motion is tabled at the County Assembly, the Governor seems to have been a step ahead. Mike Sonko transferred some functions of the county to the National Government.
Under the agreement, the national government will take over County Health services, County Transport services, County Public Works, Utilities and Ancillary services and County Government Planning and Development functions. Article 187 of the constitution provides that a function or power of government at one level may be transferred to a government at the other level by agreement between the governments if (a) the function or power would be more effectively performed or exercised by the receiving government; and (b) the transfer of the function or power is not prohibited by the legislation under which it is to be performed or exercised. The constitution adds: “If a function or power is transferred from a government at one level to a government at the other level–(a) arrangements shall be put in place to ensure that the resources necessary for the performance of the function or exercise of the power are transferred; and (b) constitutional responsibility for the performance of the function or exercise of the power shall remain with the government to which it is assigned by the Fourth Schedule.”