Infrastructure, health top priorities for Nairobi County candidates

Nairobi County headquarter (PHOTO: FILE)

NAIROBI, KENYA: The contest for Nairobi Governor Position is gathering momentum with established politicians and newcomers declaring interest in a seat that fell vacant following the impeachment of Mike Sonko.

On Tuesday Dennis Kodhe said he has declared interest in the seat promising to address insecurity, health, infrastructure, and water issues affecting the daily lives of city residents.

In an assessment of past leaders of the city under devolution, he said outside forces have denied Nairobians a chance to elect quality leaders with a track record in service delivery.

“I attribute the source of Nairobi County problems to leaders forced on voters by outside forces, these leaders have failed to serve the interest of electorates leaving them with poor services from education, health to roads among other key areas,” he said.

“I am encouraging voters to scrutinize leaders, not the political parties they are vying on to avoid making mistakes witnessed in the previous regimes, this will ensure better service delivery in different sectors,” he noted.

Kodhe who is vying on an LDP ticket says if elected will forge a work-relationship with like-minded partners such as the Nairobi Metropolitan Services to fix security, water, and health and infrastructure problems in the county.

Dennis Kodhe (PHOTO; Wilberforce Okwiri)

The Nairobi County seat fell vacant after Governor Mike Sonko was impeached by MCAs and the Senate approved his removal two weeks ago.

Other candidates who have declared interest in the seat include former assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru; Miguna Miguna, Agnes Kagure, Dennis Waweru and impeached Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.

Bishop Wanjiru on Monday told The Standard she will vie on a fringe party after failing to secure a Jubilee Party ticket.

Wanjiru had earlier said she was a ‘hustler nation’ candidate and allied to Deputy President William Ruto.

In putting forward her case, she said she was the candidate who best understood Nairobi and its challenges. “I have all it takes to represent city residents. I am their best bet for the governor seat,” said Wanjiru, who was Starehe MP between 2007 to 2013.

Former Town Clerk Philip Kisia

Former Town Clerk Philip Kisia said he had presented his papers to the Jubilee party and asked President Uhuru Kenyatta’s outfit to vet the aspirants before presenting them to residents for nominations.

Kisia said he had been ‘tried and tested’ and was fit to lead the people of Nairobi. He added that he had the “passion, experience, and education to match the job.”

“I have been the city chief executive officer and delivered on the job. I oversaw the Nairobi regeneration when I chaired the Nairobi Central Business District Association. My performance speaks for itself.”

He urged his fellow aspirants to share their CVs with residents for evaluation and approval.