Nairobi governor Mike Sonko brought the Internet to a stand still on Friday, when he sent a team to Homa Bay County to rescue Conjestina Achieng.
The deteriorating state of the former WIBF Middleweight world champion has raised an uproar after a video emerged online of some people making fun of Conje and then paying her sh 50.
Through his Twitter handle, Sonko said that Conjestina will be airlifted to Nairobi where she will be admitted in the best medical facility for rehabilitation. He also promised her a job.
My team is currently airlifting ailing veteran female boxer #CongestinaAchieng from her rural home in Gem, Siaya County for treatment in Nairobi. I’ll ensure she’s fully rehabilitated and treated before she’s assisted to get a stable job. pic.twitter.com/zkeG4jP59r
— Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) November 2, 2018
But this is not the first time Sonko has come to the rescue of Kenyans of Luo origin who needed help and had been neglected by their leaders. Here we look at three times Sonko has rescued Luos.
Sonko Clears Medical Bill for Migori Protestors
In the aftermath of last year’s protested presidential elections, several parts of Nyanza erupted to protest the results in which President Uhuru had been controversially declared a winner.
The police, also had a field day shooting protesting civilians. Several people ended up dead or in hospital nursing bullet wounds.
Six NASA supporters in Migori suffered serious bullet injuries. They were admitted at the St Joseph Omboo Mission Hospital for treatment. Hell broke loose when the hospital refused to discharge them because of unpaid medical bills amounting to more than sh 260,000.
Governor Sonko then came in and cleared the bill and gave each of them Sh10,000 for transport back home.
Sonko Caters for Funeral Expenses of three Gor Mahia Fans.
Gor Mahia is the heartbeat of all Luos. For some of them, Sirkal is a religion. They follow the team across the country for Kenyan Premier League matches.
In April this year, three Gor fans perished in a tragic road accident along Mombasa Rd. Kelvin Otieno, alias ‘Reflector’, Kennedy Omondi alias ‘Omosh wuod Alego’ and George Otieno were all coming from a match in Machakos where Gor had thrashed Thika United 5-2. They died on the spot.
Governor Mike Sonko helped the families of the deceased by paying for their funeral expenses including hiring three hearses to transport their bodies.
3. Sonko Rescues Broke Gor Mahia.
Last season, was the first time in recent history when a Kenyan Club played in the CAF Confederations Cup Group Stages. Gor were even on course to qualify for the knockouts before losing their last two matches.
But the team couldn’t have made it that far were it not for Mike Sonko. In April, Gor were supposed to travel to South Africa to honor a second leg tie against Supersport United. But the team didn’t have money to pay for the air tickets.
Guess who came to their rescue? Mike Sonko. He bought tickets for the traveling contingent of 18 players, five members of the technical bench, a federation representative and six team officials.
I could talk about other incidences the Nairobi governor has helped the community, but that’s for another day.
That is governor Sonko for you. Is he the new Jakom?