Wars between Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye and some Jubilee Members of the County Assembly is back with the MCAs accusing their governor of “doing little” in developing the County. The MCAs used Deputy President William Ruto’s visit to Kajiado County as a platform to hit on the CORD Governor.
CS security Ole lenku and Kajiado West Mp Moses Sakuda
Oloolua Ward Representative George Nyoike caused a storm when he accused Nkedianye in front of senior leaders including the Deputy President and Narok Governor Samuel Tunai for “doing little” in welcoming the DP at the Ngong Catholic Church. He accused the governor of not cleaning the town for the DP claiming that the DP was “ushered” with garbage at Ngong dumping site.
The MCA took advantage of the platform to accuse Nkedianye of dragging his feet in relocating the dumping site. Nyoike, commonly known as Kifaru, had ordered worshippers to have a glance at the church entrance and witness “flowers” welcoming the Deputy President. The flowers he meant were definitely Ngong’s garbage.
He said that the governors should use money allocated to offer services before demanding more through a referendum.
“I wonder how he will convince residents to vote for the referendum for allocation of more funds before handling the garbage issue,” Nyoike said.
He said the Kajiado MCAs will not support the “Pesa Mashinani” referendum, citing the battle between majority 25 Jubilee members against only two CORD members in the Kajiado Assembly.
Ngong MCA Paul Supet also took issue with the governor urging him to relocate the dumping site which, he said, creates a bad impression for the county.
Nyoike also took issue with Kajiado West Member of Parliament Moses Sakuda for ‘involving’ himself in Kajiado North Constituency matters and told him to ensure more effort is put to ensure he has an office in his constituency. The MCA had accused Sakuda of allegedly getting involved in a disagreement on who was to welcome President Uhuru Kenyatta who was expected in the Golden Jubilee Celebration of St Joseph’s Catholic Pro Cathedral Ngong.
Nyoike asked Sakuda to “manage” his issues from his constituency since he was elected in the area, adding that Kajiado North has its own constitutionally elected MP Joseph Manje and he is the only mandated to welcome the President in the area. Effors by Chief Whip Onesmus Ngogoyo to cut short Nyoike’s speech were fruitless as he was pushed aside by the MCA.
On his defence, Governor Nkedianye said the MCAs were not aware of the County government’s plans that have already been put in place to relocate the dumping site. A recycling plant will be put up in Kajiado North sub County to handle huge garbage amounts from the cosmopolitan towns.
Nkedianye said the plans were in the finals stages and urged the MCAs to support the proposal to allocate land in the area for the recycling plant. He urged residents to give time for the County Government to implement its projects.
“We have procured and given a tender for the recycling plant.We are only looking for a public place to put up the plant for recycling and making fertilizers, I urge MCAs to support us to identify a place immediately,” he said.
The governor had been taken to task by residents who demanded that he declares his stand on the referendum, but the governor pushed the demand aside saying he would not talk politics at a church event.
The Kajiado West MP Moses Sakuda also defended himself blaming his stay in his Kajiado North office for non gazzettement of Kajiado West District. He called on the Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security Joseph Ole Lenku to ensure that the district is gazetted for residents to receive service in their area.
The MP said many worshippers at the Ngong Catholic Church were from his constituency and should be allowed to work together as Kenyans.
Deputy President William Ruto called on governors to be accountable of funds allocated to them before asking for more. He said the Jubilee Government had put aside above 40 per cent of funds for devolution in its manifesto, accusing Cord of not putting same in theirs. Kajiado County has an allocation of Kshs 3.8 billion.
Ruto said the Opposition referendum call to remove IEBC is political and residents are not ready for it.
“He is saying we change the Constitution on land and they allocated themselves land in Coast Province making people squatters,” he said.
The Deputy President promised residents that the National Government will allocate funds for construction of Kiserian Isinya road for quick development of the County. The government, he said, has already entered into a partnership for construction of Kshs 800m sewerage system in Kiserian.
During his visit in Kajiado West for KIserian businessman Solomon Letuya’s house opening party, the DP cited Solomon as a good example of hard working citizens who have contributed to the growth of the region.
Kajiado Senator Peter Mositet said the country is not ready for the governors’ referendum since the National Government had allocated enough funds. Congratulating Letuya for leading the residents in the right direction, he said the people should follow his path for the county’s development.
Solomon said his success was a result of the Lord’s good plans, adding that he is ready to help residents for the county’s growth. He thanked leaders for turning out in large numbers to celebrate together.
Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko and Kajiado South MP Katoo ole Metito who were also present at the church event urged residents not to allow the CORD referendum.
CS Ole Lenku said that security had improved in Kajiado North and the National Government has put plan in place to ensure Ngong receives CCTVs in the Safaricom CCTV project. Kajiado County MCAs led by Onesmus Ngogoyo had called on the CS to ensure that Kiserian, Rongai and Ngong command remains in Nairobi County.
Area MP Joseph Manje called on the National Government to give titles to Kajiado North slum residents. He said that the constituency is also home to more than 500 IDPs who moved during the post-election violence and urged the government to solve the IDPs issues in the area.
From County Press
Poor planning of County govt hampering Ongata Rongai growth
By Obegi Malack.
Failure by Kajiado County Government to relocate traders from road reserves to designated trading areas has been identified as a major cause of slowing down the growth of Kajiado North sub County towns.
Residents say the towns – Kiserian, Ongata Rongai and Ngong – the biggest revenue generators, have been neglected by the County Government with the business people paying revenue but getting “little” in terms of services from the former.
In Ongata Rongai market, little is happening; notices issued by the same County Government to relocate traders to designated market sites have not been put into effect.
Traders who operate in the market accuse the Kajiado sub County town workers of allowing a majority of their counterparts to operate from road reserves. They complain that they hardly sell their products in the designated market since those on the roads have taken over almost all the customers.
Wamboi Ann, a vegetable seller, blames the County Government for allowing business people to operate on undesignated areas such as road sides and outside supermarkets. She said that those who operate businesses on illegal areas do not pay tax.
Rongai market trader shows unoccupied stalls in the market, traders on road reserves claim the market lacks enough stalls
Rongai market trader shows unoccupied stalls in the market, traders on road reserves claim the market lacks enough stalls
“Most of the traders pay little money to corrupt tax collectors; we have caught some red-handed collecting Kshs 20 from vegetable sellers on estates’ roads and road reserves. It is very unfortunate that the workers are only looking out for themselves,” she complained.
Wamboi added, “They always harass us if we don’t pay daily rates, but they fail to take back those on road reserves to Rongai market,”
Some of the traders on road reserves claim that there isn’t enough space in Rongai market yet most of them abandoned their stalls. A spot check showed that there are many occupied stalls in the market.
Residents claim that the traders prefer selling their items on roadsides since many do not pay the County. Alternatively, they pay little cash to some corrupt revenue collectors. In Rongai, traders return at night to store their commodities in Rongai market after profitable sales on roads and supermarkets.
Another trader Alice Ngang’a, said the County Government is doing little to market the Rongai market and stop illegal trading on roads. She said they were allowed in the market and took upon themselves to construct their stalls after unfulfilled promises of construction of a modern market on the designated market ground.
“Market construction started long in 2010; we wonder why they haven’t completed it. Construction of facilities such as toilets which should have been finished is still underway; we have never seen our Women Representative here, who does she represent if she does not come to the ground to find out the problems facing women in the markets,” she asked.
Businessman James Kamau, who owns a shop in Ongata Rongai, said the town becomes nonproductive for business people due to some County workers who are not informed of their duties.
He said some traders operate freely in undesignated areas with protection from some County officers.
“How can a person operate a business daily in an undesignated area without the government taking action; the government is selling the town to hawkers,” he asserted.
The town has been taken over by car washing business men who operate on road reserves and many at door steps of shops which are legally licensed to operate in the town.
Kamau said in Maasai Lodge, sand sellers have taken control of the area, loading the commodity on road reserves. The people who operate on the undesignated areas have allegedly led to the closure of several business premises – shops and hotels – which would not survive the presence of other businesses at their doorsteps.
Movement of pedestrians opposite the Uchumi Supermarket area, has become a nightmare with residents risking their lives squeezing themselves on the narrow roads with motorists. Others risk their lives passing over live wires used by Juakali welders who operate on road reserves.
James Kahindi said, “The government is waiting for people to be electrocuted by these Juakali welders in order to respond; we want it to relocate everybody from roads reserves. Rules should be applied equally.”
In Ngong town, residents blame the County workers for discriminating against them when it comes to relocation of people operating from undesignated areas.
A resident who sought anonymity said the County Askaris moved some business people out of the undesignated area opposite the Kiserian Matatu Stage leaving “their people” to operate in there.
With the deployment of the County Government enforcement officers, business people are expecting the government to roll up its sleeves to ensure that people operate from designated areas.
County Government Trade Minister Florence Mutua told Kajiado County Press her government had deployed more enforcement officers to help in the execution of the town plans.
She said that the County Government increased the officers from three to 14 in August and expected them to start work immediately.
“Ongata Rongai market which was under the then Nairobi Metropolitan Ministry, has been handed over to the County Government and the process of completing its construction has begun,” she said.
On Soko Mjinga, the minister said that the construction of Kware Market will be sponsored by the National Government, and they were in the final process of starting the construction work.
The minister said they had put in measures to ensure there is safe collection of revenue, which will ensure money collected reach the government. Residents are advised to bank any taxes to County Government accounts.
“We are planning to clear the businesses on road reserves and are advising the Juakali people on Maasai Lodge and other places to relocate before the exercise begins,” she warned
County Press
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