Cord, Jubilee party rifts aggravate Nairobi's problems

Motorists drive through a road with poor drainage system in New Donholm estate in Nairobi

NAIROBI: Elected leaders in the cosmopolitan Nairobi County, who have been divided by party and tribal interests, have started efforts to promote dialogue and development for the sake of the electorate.

The leaders’ failure to cooperate on development issues has pushed some MPs to agitate for the adoption of ‘sober’ politics, where political differences are put aside to focus on how to address a multiple socio-economic challenges facing the biggest city in East Africa.

Government statistics show that more than 50 per cent of Nairobi’s more than three million inhabitants live below the poverty line, with unemployment and high crime rates remaining major problems.

But since their election into office in the March 4, 2013, General Election, Nairobi leaders (governor, senator, MPs and members of the county assembly) have never held a forum to discuss development issues.

Like other boards in the other 46 counties, the County Development Board, which would have created an opportunity for the much-needed interaction, is yet to take off due to the governor-senator rivalry on who should be in the driving seat.

City politics have lately hit boiling point with the top two leaders, Governor Evans Kidero and Senator Mike Sonko, taking the heat from members of their respective political parties, ODM and TNA.

The city’s political power is divided between the ruling Jubilee coalition and opposition CORD. While CORD has the governorship and eight parliamentary seats out of 17, Jubilee has the senatorial seat, women’s representative and nine MPs.

At a personal level, Kidero and Sonko are reported to have differences linked to Sonko’s reported interest in the 2017 gubernatorial race come the 2017 election.

“We made one attempt to meet after the elections but failed. It’s time to put our differences aside and work for the good of city dwellers. We have to hold a leaders’ meeting, exchange views and seek solutions to challenges faced by city residents,” says Embakasi Central MP John Ndirangu.

Ndirangu, who once served as city mayor, says no single leader can pretend to offer solutions to Nairobi’s problems, and that mixing politics and issues of development is a major threat to progress.

Pulled backwards

Ndirangu is backed by Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi (ODM).

“The biggest problem in Nairobi is that Kidero, Sonko and Women’s Representative Rachel Shebesh cannot even sit and share a table for tea. MPs have tried to strike a close working relationship, but the differences between the three and coalition politics suspicions have always pulled us backwards,” Wanyonyi said.

Wanyonyi says while Kidero has brilliant ideas on how to turn Nairobi around, they have not been implemented well.

The MP says some of the things that need fixing include street lighting, roads and health services.

Former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo, a key ODM leader in the city, says the initiative to have leaders meet is welcome, but should be founded on goodwill.

“We welcome open and frank exchange of ideas but purely on developmental issues since each political side has its own political ball game,” noted Ndolo.

There is no love lost between Nairobi’s senator and governor. In a move alleged to have been meant to demonstrate that Kidero was not serving Nairobi well, Sonko recently launched his ‘rescue’ team offering free breakdown and towing services to city residents.

Sonko has also purchased ambulances that will provide free medical services and response for medical emergencies.