Johnson Sakaja, the Nairobi Governor has revealed that he is not ready to make use of luxurious house and cars while city residents are in need of services.
On Wednesday, he revealed that he was given a budget by the county government of Nairobi to purchase vehicles but he rejected it.
“Even before I was elected governor, I owned vehicles and I don't understand why they want me to buy one,” Sakaja said.
He explained that he is focusing on what is needed by Nairobi people and that buying extra vehicles was not a priority at the moment.
Sakaja had earlier rejected Sh500 million allocated for the construction of the Governor's residence and his deputy.
Instead, he said the funds should be diverted into the construction of markets that will instead offer employment to youth.
“We have spoken about the budget of Nairobi and they had allocated Sh500 million to construct the Governor’s residence and that of the deputy… I have told them to allocate the funds towards the construction of markets. This is where our hustlers are,” Sakaja said.
The county boss said that it was better for employment to be generated through the funds instead of building houses that they don't need.
In his manifesto, Sakaja pledged to construct 20 new markets across Nairobi to promote traders and decongest the main city markets, Gikomba and Wakulima, to provide an easy environment for doing business.
Gikomba, which is East Africa’s largest open-air market, has been prone to perennial fires which have cost traders loss of property worth millions, pushing some to unemployment.
Other markets are Toi and Kangemi.
Sakaja said by adding more markets, it will push Nairobi to be a city of order and dignity.
Early this year, the Nairobi county government announced plans to spend Sh500 million on official residences for the governor and deputy governor.
This was to be the first purchase of such houses since devolution and after the directive from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The Treasury in 2019 stated it was spending Sh5 million in monthly rent for governors, Sh4.51 million for deputy governors and Sh3.75 million for speakers, further burdening taxpayers who also foot other perks like transport and entertainment allowances for the officers
The budget for the house is contained in the latest County Annual Plan for the 2022-2023 financial year.
"The County Annual Development Plan for the year 2022-2023 is proposing the purchase of governors' and deputy governors' residences amounting to Sh500 million,” the document reads.
The plan has, however, not outlined in detail the location, specifications and cost of each house.
The amount, however, surpasses what the Senate had capped as the cost of a governor’s residence at Sh45 million, that of the deputy governor at Sh40 million and Sh35 million for the speaker.
‘You'll strangle yourself with those vocals,’ Salasya told