Is Mike Sonko now a ceremonial Governor?

Following the transfer of key county functions to the National Government, the newly created office of Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) will take charge of the county health services, transport, urban planning and development and public works and utilities to the State.

The NMS) office will be headed by Major General Mohamed Badi of the Kenya Air Force and deputised by Enosh Momanyi.

The team has been tasked with the role of ending corruption in the city by dismantling county cartel network.

Other roles include:

- Implementation of Nairobi railways master plan which seeks to create and redevelop about 425 acres of land around the Nairobi Railways station with an aim of creating a world-class, multi-modal node within the Nairobi Central Business District, to be kick-started within the next 100 days.

- Re-activating county government garbage collections vehicles and implementing a solid waste management plan

- Constructing pedestrian walkways

- Improving water sanitation among others.

NMS has also been tasked with streamlining urban renewal projects, for example, those along Jevanjee and Pangani areas in Nairobi which had been previously awarded before 2018 and have continually been delayed.

The NMS will also review these projects and make determinations on how the projects can take off, realizing that the development of these projects are a part of the recently concluded Eastlands Urban Renewal Masterplan

The NMS team has also been directed to concentrate on streamlining development control and approvals for the County and implement an urgent action plan to clear backlogs for approvals.

They should fully operationalize the e-Construction and e-Permit systems and in this way, reduce the number of delays arising for investors from development control approvals.

Working very closely with the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA), NMS will implement the Nairobi Urban Mobility Plan and effect the non-motorized transport (NMT) goals within the plan, which include providing paved walkways, street furniture, and improved conditions for pedestrians on foot and/or cycling.

The NMS will construct walkways along three major pedestrian streets at Muindi Mbingu Street, Wabera Street, and Kenyatta Avenue so as to enhance non-motorised transport in the city.

NMS has been tasked to operationalize two matatu termini at Desai Road and Park Road in order to stem the use of city streets as parking for matatus.

To further improve traffic management and help in decongesting the CBD, NMS has been asked to rehabilitate and reintroduce the use of traffic signals.

The team has also been asked to introduce automated, hourly car parking facilities at Central Bus Station (along Landhies Road), Sunken Car Park (along Aga Khan Walk), and the Nairobi Law Courts Parking (along City Hallway).

On waste management, the President has directed the Maj-Gen Abdalla led team to focus on operationalizing effective garbage collection and disposal methods that will include a collaboration with the National Youth Service.

NMS is expected to reactivate county garbage collection vehicles, trucks and other equipment that have been grounded and only require minimum repair to be able to increase the level of service from the County.

They should ensure that there is a crackdown on illegal dumpsites and enforcement on affluent discharge from industry and restaurants.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) took over revenue collection in Nairobi

The Ministry of Transport also took over public transport functions in Nairobi from the county government.

Following this transfer, Governor Mike Sonko signed away the city’s devolved functions to the national government, effectively losing his grip on his chaotic reign at City Hall.

This essentially leaves the governor with a shell.