President right to query Kidero office’s usage of taxpayer funds

I read Dr Evans Kidero’s interview, Kidero denies he gave Nasa county cash (DN, September 11), with interest.

First, I must commend the former Nairobi governor on earnestly conceding after a heated race against Mike Sonko.

I also applaud his bravery in observing transitional protocol by attending Governor Sonko’s inauguration at Uhuru Park — save for his coming in after the Head of State, against decorum, humility and courteousness.

FINANCE
However, it is insulting for Kidero to claim that the President made frivolous and trivial statements when it is evident that Nairobi became decrepit during his tenure.

Firstly, the county debt quintupled from Sh11 billion to Sh55 billion — despite that Sh100 billion received from the national government and fees and levies collected from residents is unaccounted for.

Secondly, he has exposed the county to legal suits for his unscrupulous deals that failed to follow due process.

TENDERS

For instance, the exposé on the solid waste management scandal revealed that the said German “investors” had no capacity, knowledge or experience in the relevant field.

To aggravate the situation, the “investors” have moved to court for Sh600 million for breach of contract, regardless of the unenforceability of the contract.

Other dodgy deals include the electronic payment tender debacle that has led to the tendering firm suing the county for Sh1.5 billion for wrongful dismissal, as well as several “housing deals” that need to be subjected to a forensic audit.

REVENUE
Thirdly, during my tenure, which ended in 2012, revenue stood at Sh8 billion.

Kidero inflated charges by more than 100 percent. Thus, logic dictates that collections should have increased to Sh18 billion.

Considering the merits of automation, the city’s revenue collection should, ideally, range between Sh20 billion and Sh22 billion.

As such, we are duly obliged to query the offices mandated with auditing and oversighting the county budget and demand an explanation for the discrepancies between the reported collection (Sh11 billion) and potential revenue (Sh20 billion).

HOUSING
The Controller of Budget, the Commission for Revenue Allocation, the Senate and the Auditor-General must fess up and account for these disparities.

Finally, yet importantly, I wish to caution Governor Sonko on Kidero’s request concerning the continuation of his “new houses project” — or rather, the Urban Renewal Project.

Firstly, I wish to demarcate my administration’s actions in regard to this project that involved careful conceptualisation, research, development and initiation from the current shamble.

UNFINISHED PROJECTS
Secondly, I advise Governor Sonko to carefully and seamlessly audit the entire project as the outgoing administration has marred the transparency of this once noble project.

Thirdly, may I highlight some beneficial projects my administration initiated that he may consider completing.

These projects include but are not limited to:

• Solid Waste Management Project. This was at the implementation stage with Jica before it was corrupted by the new German “investors”;

• Human Resource Review Assessment. Aimed at increasing efficiency, it was at the implementation stage. In fact, we had already opened up discussions with Word Bank to fund implementation;

• The planned World Bank-sponsored Integrated Mass Bus Transport System and the Physical Address System;

• The planned World Bank-sponsored infrastructure projects in the areas of roads, water, electricity, et cetera;

• Building of markets and parking silos through public-private partnerships (PPP).

FUNDS MISUSE
The President is warranted in demanding accountability.

It would not be far-fetched to conclude on the possible misappropriation of these funds.

This anomaly begs the question on the whereabouts of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Mr Kisia was the last Town Clerk of the City of Nairobi. [email protected].