Stop water politics, Uhuru tells county leaders

President Uhuru Kenyatta has cautioned county leaders against using water issues to gain political mileage.

He said water is a natural resource which should not be politicised.

According to him, the objective of improving the lives of all Kenyans cannot be achieved if there is disunity among political leaders.

“Water is a natural resource from God. What we should do is to come together and share the resource for the benefit of all Kenyans. Water is for all Kenyans,” said the President.

He was speaking when he joined Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and hundreds of Nairobi residents at Uhuru Market in Makadara Constituency for the Nairobi monthly clean up exercise.

The President also warned millers that the Government would take action against them if they refuse to lower the price of maize flour to the recommended price.

“As I said over the week Governor Sonko and I have called on millers and traders to reduce the price of maize flour.

Governor Sonko said the Nairobi monthly clean-up exercise will be a regular exercise because city residents have seen its benefits.

“I note with appreciation the support we have continued to receive. Every clean-up has witnessed improvement in attendance and participation.

“It is my hope that residents associations, youth groups and women groups will in future take the lead in organising this monthly event,” said the Governor.

The Governor also challenged community groups especially youth organisations to take the lead in cleaning up the city.

He said his administration values the UN’s partnership citing his recent move to stop the construction of a hotel building that would have overlooked the UN Headquarters, the Moroccan Embassy and the US Embassy in Gigiri.

“The approval of the building was irregular and we will not allow any international organisation to be negatively affected by people who don’t follow rules and regulations,” added Sonko.

Makadara MP George Aladwa who was also present lauded the President and Governor Sonko for leading the clean-up exercise and assured them that the initiative would be replicated in his constituency.

“We fully support this initiative by Governor Sonko because we all want a clean environment in the city,” stated the former Nairobi Mayor.

The event was also attended by UNEP Executive Director Erik Solheim, UN-Habitat Deputy Executive Director Victor Kisob, Nairobi County CECs, MCAs and other top county officials.

The Nairobi monthly clean up exercise whose theme is “My Waste My Responsibility” entered it’s fourth month since it was launched by Governor Sonko on July 7, 2018.

Report by the Nairobi Governor’s Press Service