While perusing the Sh805 million budget estimates for 2019/2020 financial year for Mr Sonko’s office and that of his deputy,the Legal and Justice Committee has exposed the rot in Sonko’s office.
Nairobi county residents were shocked to learn from the committee that their county boss has been secretly enjoying Sh96 million ‘confidential expenditures’ annually since he came into office in 2017.
The irregular multimillion confidential budget has been secretly allocated to him and officers from his office could not explain Legal and Justice Committee what the ‘confidential budget’ is meant for.
The huge amount has never been approved by the county assembly as part of the county’s financial plan raising eyebrows.
The committee, led by its chairperson Jayendra Malde put to task Mr Dominic Odera — an administration officer in Mr Sonko’s office and who also serves as the county’s fleet manager — to account for the huge sum.
Mr Sonko defended the confidential budget saying that it was normal since he has many departments under his office.
“Having a confidential budget is normal. Running Nairobi is not a joke. There are so many things happening under my office,” said Sonko.
There are five departments, including inspectorate, legal services, disaster management and coordination, investigative services and administration.
Raising more eyebrows was a Sh490.6 million allocated for both offices yet the county has had no deputy governor since January, 2018 when Polycarp Igathe resigned.
Nominated MCA Silvia Kihoro questioned how the budget has been spent despite Nairobi operating without a deputy governor for a whole financial year.
It was also revealed that Governor Sonko has been moving in a fleet of 12 cars against a requirement of only five cars.
Is mike Sonko over exploiting Nairobi taxpayers?