Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has defended the multi-million shilling confidential budget that has been secretly allocated to his office.
The Sh96 million ‘confidential budget’ was revealed by the County Assembly oversight committee where it emerged that Mr Sonko has been enjoying the jackpot since he took office in 2017.
When contacted, Mr Sonko defended the confidential budget. “Having a confidential budget is normal. Running Nairobi is not a joke. There are so many things happening under my office,” said Sonko.
Sonko claimed the money is meant for operation expenses, this despite the existence of a hospitality budget specifically for the county governor’s office.
“The name confidential is being misused in this case. It is supposed to be ‘operation.’ The governor’s office is big… legal is under me, security, there is a lot of terrorism threats in Nairobi we need to get information… When ambassadors come to my office, I need to be buying tea for them. I cannot be using money from my pocket throughout,” said Sonko.
According to the law, a confidential budget is only allocated to the President and is approved by the Interior ministry.
City Hall officers failed to present a letter indicating that Sonko should be allocated the confidential budget.
It was also revealed that Mr Sonko has been moving in a fleet of 12 cars against a requirement of only five cars.
Mr Odero said that the additional cars are from other sectors under the office of the governor including those allocated to the deputy governor.
City Hall has been running without a deputy governor since January 2018 when Polycarp Igathe resigned from the position.
“The governor, by law, is entitled to only five cars but some of the additional cars are drawn from other sectors. Since the governor is the overall authority, the officers cannot restrict him and we have to fuel all the 12 vehicles plus those that escort him,” said Mr Odera when pitching for a Sh180 million fuels budget.