Uhuru drops in on Kidero at City Hall
| President Uhuru Kenyatta with the Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero when he called on him at his office in City Hall, Nairobi. |
What you need to know:
- “We were not informed of the visit so we did not have a chance to make the necessary arrangements. He just walked in,” one of the governor’s bodyguards told Nation.
President Kenyatta Tuesday made an impromptu visit to City Hall where security featured prominently in the discussions.
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said he had not been informed of the visit.
“I was surprised because I didn’t know he was coming but it was a pleasant surprise all together. It shows the President is interested in what is happening in the capital city, where he is also resident. That is so encouraging,” he said.
It was not just the Governor who was caught off-guard but his aides and staff as well.
“We were not informed of the visit so we did not have a chance to make the necessary arrangements. He just walked in,” one of the governor’s bodyguards told Nation.
In the meeting, it was agreed to appoint a new security chief seconded to the county government.
“The President agreed to second an Assistant Commissioner of Police to head security, investigations and disaster management in the city. This is one area that I have always insisted we must do everything to strengthen,” Dr Kidero said.
He said the move is part of a wider response to the Westgate terror attack that left dozens of people dead.
“There is a consensus between central government and us that security is a joint effort and this is exactly what we are doing,” he said.
Earlier, the President was at the KICC where he presided over the Taxpayers Awards Ceremony organised by the Kenya Revenue Authority before he crossed over to City Hall. City Hall and KICC are only separated by City Hall Way.
The President and Governor also briefly discussed funding of programmes jointly run by the central and county government.
“We discussed things like the relationship between water boards and the need to streamline their operations,” Dr Kidero said.
The visit is likely to rekindle debate about a special relationship between the two leaders that has seen some ODM members accuse Dr Kidero of being too close to the Jubilee administration.
Other notable figures who have paid the governor courtesy calls are former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka and former Bungoma senator Moses Wetang’ula.
