Sakaja Responds to Critics after Being Ranked among Non-performing Governors

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed the findings of a survey that ranked him among the worst performing governors.

The survey by Insight Strategists Solutions Africa (ISSA) ranked Sakaja at position 38 of 47.

According to the pollster, the first timer in the Council of Governors (CoG) garnered 33.2% on approval and 33.7% on the development parameter.

Reacting to the findings, Sakaja wondered how the pollster arrived at the ratings despite the work he had already initiated.

He noted that City Hall had collected more revenue, this adding to more administrative feats a year after he took office.

"I see such ratings and laugh. Nairobi has collected the highest revenue in 5 years, paid 7,640 CHVs monthly from Aug last year, built first ICU, 2nd renal unit, 1st NICU ever, employed 2,500 Green Army, built 10 kitchens to feed 250k children already 88k on boarded, tarmacked roads, put up street lights, issued bursaries and scholarships worth >1B (compared to 3B in 10 years) bursaries issued every school term now for the first time, increased ward based projects to 23Million per ward from 17, building markets and restarted projects stalled for the last 6 years etc etc. Who did the ranking and what were the metrics? he posed.

Sakaja had been blasted by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino who accused him of maladministration at City Hall.

The lawmaker faulted Sakaja for overtaxing city dwellers in the face of the prevalent tough state of the economy, and allegedly emptying the public coffers.

He dismissed Sakaja's slogan that he's working for Nairobians, suggesting the county boss had already failed a year into his governorship tenure.

"Sakaja is an embarrassment to the people of Nairobi. How can you be ranked last out of 47 Counties? Kazi ni Kuiba pesa Za Nairobi County and buying Houses in America,London and Dubai. In addition to that he’s increasing taxes to Nairobians.Even dead bodies are now taxed. Nairobi imeisha,Dimples ndio imebaki. Imekataa kuwork," said Babu.

In the report, women governors outdid themselves with Embu's Cecily Mbarire taking it with an average of 65%.

Homa Bay's Gladys Wanga, Nakuru's Susan Kihika and Anne Waiguru of Kirinyaga also featured among the performing governors with 60%, 59.8% and 58.7% respectively.

Top five ranked best-performing male governors comprised Irungu Kang'ata of Murang'a with 62.8%, Abdi Guyo of Isiolo with 60.2%, Kitui's Julius Malombe (59.5%), Patrick Ntutu of Narok with 59.1% and Kisumu's Anyang' Nyong'o (54.9%).