Kericho NGO: We apologise for Senator Cheruiyots proposal to scrap Nairobi

A civil society group from Kericho County on Monday opposed Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot’s proposal to dissolve Nairobi County and have its affairs run by the national government.

The group composed of women and the youth from the region expressed its disappointment over Cheruiyot’s involvement in Nairobi affairs, terming the proposal a personal opinion.

“Those were his opinion and we would like to distance ourselves as Kericho people” they said.

“Article 96 of the Kenyan constitution provides that senators should protect county affairs and that’s exactly what senator Aaron should be doing and not protecting personal interests.”

They said the Kericho senator should focus on serving people and ensuring problems affecting the counties are resolved instead of creating walls for achieving such goals.

They further sent an apology to Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and the people of Nairobi, accusing Cheruiyot of undermining the Nairobi government’s leadership.

“Allow me to apologise to Nairobians especially Governor Sonko for what Cheruiyot is proposing,” said the group’s leader.

“He should concentrate on Kericho residents’ affairs and stop Nairobi politics immediately, because we have enough problems already.”

They added: “Let him leave Sonko to handle Nairobi affairs, if Kericho has overwhelmed him let him resign.”

Last week, Senator Cheruiyot became the second person to propose that Nairobi County be scrapped and its management left to the national government.

In his Bill, Cheruiyot wants the president to appoint a cabinet secretary who will be in charge of the national capital city.

Patrick Kamotho Githinji, who is the chairman of Muthurwa Residents Association Welfare in September sent a proposal to the Senate calling for the scrapping of the Nairobi County government on grounds of incompetency.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Thursday strongly opposed the Bill saying Cheruiyot should focus on his County.

“He (Senator Cheruiyot) is acting within his constitutional rights but he should know that Nairobi has its own people and this is a complex matter that requires a referendum.

“He is the Kericho Senator, he cannot purport to be making a decision of for more than 5 million Nairobi residents,” said Sonko.