Sonko, NMS boss Badi in new supremacy battle of city projects

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director-General Mohammed Badi and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko could be headed for another supremacy battle over the implementation of projects in the capital city.

This comes after NMS took exception with a post crediting Sonko with an ongoing street lighting project in Mlango Kubwa Ward in Mathare Constituency.

The post pointed out that the repair and installation of streetlights in Mlango Kubwa Ward have been done by the governor and area MCA Patricia Mutheu instead of saying the work was done by NMS, drawing the fury of the new office.

“We have noted with concern that some persons in Nairobi County are taking credit for ongoing street lighting projects by NMS. As NMS, we categorically and clearly state that this street lighting programme in Mlango Kubwa Ward 8 was undertaken by us on July 9, 2020,” read a post on NMS Facebook page.

WORKING TOGETHER

It is only last month that a deal was struck between the NMS boss and Sonko to see the two work together in service delivery to Nairobi residents with President Uhuru Kenyatta calling out on the latter to work closely with NMS team to ensure a quick turnaround of interventions being implemented in Nairobi.

However, the truce seems to have been short-lived with NMS telling off “some persons in Nairobi County” for taking credit for work done by Mr Badi’s office.

With no love lost between the two offices, the team led by Mr Badi stated that it does not wish to engage in any supremacy battles with anybody lest they get distracted from implementing the four county functions for enhanced  service provision  in Nairobi.

While stamping its authority, NMS warned “those out to apportion unearned credit on themselves” for the ongoing successful works that their days are numbered.

UNWORTHY PRACTICE

“We shall not entertain this unworthy practice and urge such persons to desist from such behaviour.”

At the start of last month, the two offices engaged in an online exchange over the ongoing implementation of a non-motorised transport system along Kenyatta Avenue, Wabera and Muindi Mbingu streets, with each side claiming credit for the same.

At the time, Sonko’s Spokesman Ben Mulwa said the project was the brainchild of the governor with contracts awarded as early as 2018 as part of City Hall’s greater investment in infrastructure like roads and health.

He explained that the contract for Kenyatta Avenue was awarded on August 19, 2019 by the county government for development of a pedestrian walkway, car park and the lawn while the one for Muindi Mbingu Street was awarded in August 2018.

“NMS has only been in operation for less than three months and as you know the government procurement procedure, we cannot say it is an initiative of the NMS. What it is doing is phase two of the project where they are blocking one of the parking slots to create a cycling lane,” he said.