Nairobi Governor Sonko Cries Foul After Bodyguards, Drivers are Withdrawn

Embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has protested the withdrawal of security detail and drivers assigned to him. The drivers and bodyguards at his Upper Hill office and Mua residence were withdrawn on Friday, April 24th, days after he vowed to terminate a deal that saw the national government takeover key functions previously performed by the Nairobi county government.

Sonko last week claimed that the takeover process had been hijacked by some national government officials in a bid to embarrass and frustrate him.

“When we started this process the President had good intentions on Nairobi but some of his greedy officers in gvt especially the ones who hate me have hijacked the process to embarrass and frustrate me with a lot of impunity,” Sonko noted.

Sonko declared he will not sign the deed of transfer of functions, claiming that he has not been served with a copy of the document to date and does not know its contents. “I will not sign in fact this is the time to terminate the transfer of functions deed. To date I have not been furnished with a copy of the deed,” Sonko wrote.

“I was not given sufficient time to even read the draft. I was just told it is a good thing on service delivery to the great people of Nairobi as I deal with my court cases since I love you, people of Nairobi,” he added.

The withdrawal of the drivers and bodyguards also came after Sonko allegedly held a meeting with Deputy President William Ruto, according to Daily Nation.

“I'm the governor of the city but I am shocked to find all my county drivers and guards have been moved... and this leaves me exposed,” Sonko said as quoted by The Standard.

"If I have to leave my office or home, I will have to drive myself. All the drivers and askaris attached to my office have been recalled."