NAIROBI; KENYA: Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero’s recent moves have triggered speculation, putting him at loggerheads with some Orange Democratic Movement supporters.
However, he appears to be a man on a mission and this explains why at a time the country is transfixed by suggestions that a referendum be held to compel the government to allocate more funds to counties, he has gone to China in search of answers.
His bag is overflowing with goodies, which he sourced while on the official tour after he bagged Sh87 billion funding for various development projects.
While governors were engaged in the clamour for a referendum to increase funding for counties, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero seized an opportunity that has seen him secure Sh87 billion to fund projects in the city.
Dr Kidero opted to accompany President Uhuru Kenyatta on his China tour at a time when Coalition for Restoration of Democracy ( Cord), which sponsored him, is pushing for a referendum to force the National Government to allocate more funds to the counties.
Kodero’s trip to China also comes against the backdrop of claims the Nairobi Governor is becoming more sympathetic to Kenyatta’s jubilee than Raila Odinga ledCord.
Since his election, the governor has been walking a political tight rope because although the Cord has the majority in the Nairobi County Assembly, it leads by only one ward representative.
This means although Kidero cannot afford to sever the political umbilical cord with Cord, he at the same time cannot afford to ignore Jubilee.
It is against this background that Kidero travelled with the President to China where he has secured substantial financial backing to rescue his county.
The funding may help prove to those who have criticised him for being too close to the President that it helps to be pragmatic.
Kidero has however shrugged off the claims he was turning his back on Cord saying that he cannot play politics with the office the county that controls the country’s economy.
Meet president
“My association with the President is based on law as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya. I am mandated by law to meet the President to discuss how to share costs of the national and county governments,” Dr Kidero said.
The governor said the Constitution mandates him to meet with the President four times in a year.
“Just as the council of governors meet with the President four times a year, so should I because we have unique features as opposed to other counties,” Dr Kidero said.
He said his meetings with the President should be seen in the light of providing services to Nairobi residents and not politics.
“I am a life member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that is a partner in Cord. But at the same time, I am the governor of Nairobi,”
He added, “Those saying anything to the contrary do not see the need to steer this nation to prosperity. We need to work together to realise our dreams.”
ODM Secretary General, Mr Anyang Nyong’o said as the Governor of Nairobi, which is the seat of power, Mr Kidero is free to work closely with the President.
The speculation that Kidero was no longer loyal to Cordwas fuelled by his absence from the former Prime Minister’s entourage to the US comprising twelve Cordgovernors to market opportunities in their counties to potential investors.
Kidero said he used the China visit to meet the President and Executive Chairman of the ChinaInvestment Bank, which readily agreed to provide much needed funds for the development of Nairobi.
The money will be used for funding infrastructure and urban regeneration of the populous Eastlands where old county houses stand.-standardmedia.co.ke
