I spend my own money on Nairobi City beautification, says Sonko

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko says he has been using his own money to fund the Nairobi City beautification project, which includes planting of flowers and grass along major roads and pavements in the city.

Appearing before the Senate County Public Investment Committee on Monday, Sonko said that ahead of the Blue Economy Conference held in Nairobi last week, he spent Ksh.100,000 from his personal account on the posters of cabinet secretaries and governors erected along Mombasa Road.

When the committee questioned why he had opted to use his own money yet the county could fund the project, Sonko said the facelift programme was not in the county budget, further adding: “Nairobi is in my heart, Nairobi is in my blood, this is a pilot project. We want to transform Nairobi.”

“We benchmarked in Kigali and Dubai, who spend on beautification. I was trying to implement to see if it works. We want to add it to the next budget, but for now it is my own money.”

As the committee struggled to acknowledge the Governor’s magnanimity, Sonko dared them to invite the Auditor General to look into the county expenditure, adding that he had never spent a coin from the county coffers on beautification.

“I am a philanthropist and my work is known,” Sonko added.

Asked how much the beautification project had cost him, he said: “That, I have to check on my bank statements, because I use personal resources.”

When probed about his regular hiring and firing of staff, Sonko defended his stand, saying that he inherited a corrupt government from his predecessor, Evans Kidero.

“Immediately I took oath, I promised Nairobians to deal with corruption,” he said, “I fire my officers for genuine reasons. We inherited a corrupt government from my predecessor.”

He said he had to change the terms of contract and offer city hall staffers one-year contracts to, which he renews once he has established trust. He affirmed that he will continue firing “corrupt officers” to protect the interests of the people of Nairobi.

“I will continue to fire corrupt officers until we restore good operations. I want to protect the interest of the people,” he said.

The governor also mentioned that in two months time he will nominate a candidate to take up the position of deputy governor as well as unveil a new cabinet.