Is it For the Millions? Here is Why Sonko is Determined to Enforce His Walkathon Orders

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko might end up regretting his rather rash decision to impose a ban on Public Service Vehicles from accessing the CBD.

The Governor has been accused by different quarters of coming up with an immature plan that cannot be implemented at the moment given the scarce resources available.

Gatundu South Mp Moses Kuria has joined in the debate and has now accused Sonko of being responsible for the Transport Mess in the City.

According to Kuria, Sonko is opposed to a body formed by the President to help address the challenges facing the transport sector in Nairobi.

In 2017, President Kenyatta formed theĀ Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NAMATA) to help streamline Nairobi’s Transport Sector, a body that Kuria claims that Sonko is so against.

“The last thing we need is reactionary and unilateral decisions on a matter that requires so many parties to work together. This is a team sport not a round of squash,” said Kuria.

In a statement to the media, Kuria who serves as Parliament’s Transport and Public Works committee vice chair said Sonko is opposed to NAMATA on grounds that it is a ploy to deny him revenue and claw back on his powers.

“His latest moves to adopt knee-jerk measures to ‘decongest the city’ are just a smokescreen meant to divert attention from his opposition to NAMATA,” he added.

The lawmaker called upon the Governor to suspend his ‘walkathon’ orders until consultations take place.

Below is Kuria’s Full Press Release

Press Release
Nairobi, 3rd December, 2018

The long term solution to the transportation woes of the greater Nairobi Metropolitan Area lies in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NAMATA). Governor Mike Sonko remains bitterly opposed to NAMATA on the spurious grounds that it is a ploy to deny him revenue and claw back on his powers. Both claims are unfounded and not true. Governor Mike Sonko remains to be the biggest impediment to streamlining the greater NairobiĀ Metropolitan Area’s transportation. His latest moves to adopt knee jerk measures to ‘decongest the city’ are just a smokescreen meant to divert attention from his opposition to NAMATA. Nairobi’s transportation problems are complex as they have built up over time. They require sophiscated, comprehensive, well thought out and multi-disciplinary solutions. The last thing we need is reactionary and unilateral decisions on a matter that requires so many parties to work together. This is a team sport not a round of squash. The committee of Transport, Public Works, Infrastructure and Housing continues to call upon Governors Joseph Ole Lenku, Dr Alfred Mutua, Mike Sonko, Ferdinand Waititu and Mwangi wa Iria to come forward to work with parliament so that we can operationalize NAMATA and offer long term solutions to the transportation problems in the greater Nairobi Metropolitan Area. In the meantime I call upon Governor Sonko to suspend his walkathon orders untill such consultations take place

Hon Moses Kuria, HSC, MP
Vice Chair
Transport, Infrastracture, Public Works & Housing Committee
National Assembly
Nairobi

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