In more than three months, residents of Nairobi County have
been feeling the hit –with poor service delivery –from Governor Mike Sonko
led-administration.
With corruption charges facing the City Hall boss, much
controversy revolving the county management has caused panic among residents
and especially the CBD duelers, coupled with untidy state and boycott by the
county workers.
Moving across the city, streets are full of garbage –a clear
indication that Nairobi is lacking on one thing –leadership.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s move to established the office of
the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) comes as a ray of hope for millions of
city duelers, who have been crying foul over poor service delivery.
On Wednesday, the president appointed Major General Mohamed
Abdalla Badi as the director general of NMS, completing the national government
takeover of key functions from the county’s administration.
Among these functions include transport, public works and
planning dockets, which were surrendered in February by Governor Mike Sonko.
NMS responsibilities
The Nairobi Metropolitan Service is required to dismantle
cartels at City Hall, streamlining renewal projects such as urban housing in
Pangani and Jevanjee, as well as the implementation of the Nairobi railway
masterplan.
It will also streamline the approval and licensing of building,
decongestion of the city, tackling the garbage menace and operationalization of
non-motorized transport goals such as the installation of walkways.
NMS is also expected to reform the water and sanitation
sectors, sewerage, health, roads and housing.
“The Nairobi Metropolitan Service will be in charge of the
functions that are transferred to the national government on behalf of the
county government. The primary responsibility would be to ensure delivery of
services to the citizens of Nairobi,” said President Kenyatta.
It will also operationalize two matatu termini at Desai Road
and Park Road, reintroducing the use of traffic signals to improve traffic
management and help decongest the central business district.
Taxation
For parking revenue, president Uhuru ordered NMS to
introduce automated, hourly car parking facilities at the central bus station
(along Landhies Road), sunken car park (along Aga Khan Walk), and the Nairobi
law courts parking (along City Hall Way).
“Our plans for enhanced service through commuter rail
are also going to yield great results on decongesting Nairobi. We will take
first delivery of four out of the 11 diesel multiple unit trains from Spain by
July 2020. The availability of these units will increase our capacity to
provide commuter rail services,” said the president.
Tax will be collected by the Kenya Revenue Authority, on
behalf of the county government following an agreement between KRA Commissioner
General James Mburu and Nairobi Finance Executive Allan Igambi.
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