Nairobi City Governor Johnson Sakaja, has revealed that there are six wanted politicians, some from central region, labelled for sponsoring chaotic GenZs protests, even though, they were expressing their opinion on matters governance as guaranteed constitutionally
While acknowledging the fact there’s rampant corruption in the government and slow pace of implementing manifestos that they campaigned on, Sakaja welcomed the peaceful demonstrations, only faulting those who burnt his offices as well as entering restricted areas including Parliament and Judiciary
“One of my good friend MP’s Personal Assistant was captured in our CCTV footage burning my office at City Hall, when investigations are done, they will tell who had sent them because the law has to take it’s course.
I know a number of politicians who have been implicated in these protests, however nothing wrong for Gen-Zs to demonstrate and express their opinion because we really need to reflect as a country and do what our people are expecting us to do,” Sakaja remarked
He pointed out that the demonstrations have made the county of Nairobi miss Sh 200 million of own source revenue, expressing optimistic that, they are doing well in collecting more funds after they managed to get Sh12.8 billion in the final week of this financial year
Sakaja disclosed that water revenue a lone shot up to Sh10.7 billion after digitizing the revenue collection, zipping out all corruption loopholes where tax collectors would pocket some monies
According to Mr Sakaja, is that the President William Ruto ought to reflect much on youngee generation and make radical changes in his government before things gets out of hands
“As City Hall nothing we are losing because have insurered all premises and all items in fact insurance company is accessing the damages in order to compensate, no cause of alarm, we are okay,” he added
While admitting that he forms part of millennials, Sakaja disclosed interesting news that GenZs led by activist Boniface Mwangi have requested to conduct a concert at Uhuru Park on Sunday 7th July, 2024 and some politicians have reached him to deny them the space
In contrary, the Governor told press that not only authorizing them to conduct the concert aimed at mourning those who were killed by police but will also attend in person in solidarity of pushing for change in the structure of governance
Sakaja expressed his commitment in making Nairobi County move where he reiterated that his county government has employed over 3500 people, more than any other county government, even challenging national government to create more jobs as they promised during the campaigns
He spoke immediately after appearing before the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba where the question of pending bills owed to defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services was extensively canvassed
Senators demanded to know why the Sh16 billion pending bills in question have not been cleared 22 months since governor Sakaja took over the four functions which had been plunged out of Nairobi City County Executive
Interesting and shockingly, Sakaja told the committee that out of Sh 16 billion in question, Sh 4 billion had been paid- vehemently stating that the back stops with Executive Office of the President which had transferred their functions to national government.
He told Senators to invite State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito to answer why they haven’t paid those pending bills because it is not county government which is supposed to pay the questionable amounts
Further, refuted claims that the debts has resulted to poor services on solid waste management that has choked some estates with pilled garbages hence risking the lives of city dwellers
On budget cuts; Mr Sakaja told President William Ruto that the budget allocated for county government Sh 400 billion can not be reduced where the constitution says in case of such shortage, the national government will bear the consequences