Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has defended his selection of Miguna Miguna for Deputy Governor, saying he will not withdraw the name.
In a recording of a phone interview with Citizen TV, Sonko refers to the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila, saying the lawyer is a Kenyan who can effectively fight cartels.
"Si uwongo ... ni ukweli kwa sababu
(It is true because) in the spirit of the so-called handshake and reconciliation, peace and forgiveness, mimi sioni makosa kubwa ambayo Miguna, hata kama sijamconsult, amefanya (I do not see the big mistake Miguna made, even if I did not consult him)," he says.
"I am the Governor of Nairobi and the Constitution is clear that I have the power to appoint the Deputy Governor."
The Governor notes that Miguna, a lawyer and self-styled General of the National Resistance Movement, can also be forgiven and that he will help in many ways.
"Miguna is anti-cartels number one," he says, adding
he has no problem with the President but just one person, whom he does not name, but whom he describes as the leader of cartels.
Sonko notes that if Miguna is blocked, he will simply select another person.
Regarding Senator Johnson Sakaja, who termed the nomination a joke, Sonko says he has forgotten that he helped Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, even though Jubilee Party politicians went against him.
He said Sakaja has no moral authority to lecture him on his choice.
"Oh Governors should be serious ... serious what? Miguna should also be forgiven. There is nobody Miguna abused as much as be abused Governor Sonko."
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He tells Kenyans not to forget the far they have come.
"Miguna asamehewe, arudi Kenya, achukue kazi yake, apigane na cartels na wizi na ule cartel mkubwa (Miguna should be forgiven so he can return to Kenya, take the job and fights cartels and theft)," he said, adding he will not withdraw the letter on Miguna's nominations," he says.
"Naheshimu rais, Deputy President, Jubilee na county Assembly. Naomba tu rais wangu ... hata Miguna ni binadamu na ni mkenya ... aregeshewe citizenship yake ... sirudi nyuma (I respect the President, DP William Ruto, Jubilee party and the Assembly. I beg you, Mr President, Miguna is a human being and a Kenya ... let his citizenship be restored ... I will not go back on this)."
In a statement on Thursday night,
Sonko said he was surprised that some people within Jubilee were bashing his choice yet they keep on talking about cohesion and building bridges in political rallies.
He said Kenyans should not forget that in May 2016, he promised to appoint Miguna to his government once elected.
Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi said they will only vet Miguna once the government clarifies his citizenship status since the government forcefully deported him out claiming he had renounced it. Miguna is also a citizen of Canada.
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'LIFE IN DANGER'
At the start of the phone conversation, Sonko said he was not always available as the cartel leader had threatened him.
He asks why he is the only one whose security has been withdrawn. Following a directive by Interior CS Fred Matiang'i, his team was cut to four. The withdrawal is supposed to affected all VIPs as the minstry wants more focus on Kenyans and their property.
"There is no way he can threaten the life of a Governor elected by the people," he says, and adds: "Wacha achukue security ... hakuna mtu atakufa ... Sitapigia magoti binadamu. NItasujudia Mungu peke yake."
Sonko said that he had no problem with the withdrawal of his security and that
he will not question anyone as the goal is serve Kenyans.
"Let us move on. Let us focus on service delivery."
He tells the "cartel leader" that he can 'finish' him in one day using police and intelligence" as he is not above the law.
Sonko emphasises that he is not afraid and that God will protect him as he works on Nairobi's problems, some of which he says are beyond control.
“I have no problem with the government because if I start fighting with this government, it would be the same as fighting the President. I only have a problem with one person and you all know who it is. There is no way someone in government can predict the death of the Governor who was elected by people of Nairobi and in this case, a Jubilee Governor,” said Sonko.
'SERIOUS CORRUPTION IN NAIROBI'
Regarding the idea that Miguna's nomination was part of a message to those getting in the way of his work, the county chief speaks of corruption and cartels
that he says redirected Sh3.4 billion for the construction of Nairobi roads by June 2017.
"Pesa ilikuja lakini haikutumika kwa haya ... ukitrack hii pesa, ilitoka Central Bank, ikaenda kwa mawakili, contractors na watu wamechoza ramani za numba ... hizi nyumba ni za nani?
(The money was sent but it was not used as intended ... if you track it ... it went from Central Bank then lawyers, contractors and people who drew plans for houses ... whose houses are these)?".
He did not give details.
Sonko admits that he trailed, with a D+ in service delivery, but says Nairobi "was full of corruption" when he got into office, "unlike Kisumu", whose Governor is Anyang' Nyong'o.
"I am a Kenyan. I have stood with the government for long. If they think I am not working, they can take this job away from me. But they should do so the right way instead of tarnishing my name with propaganda. I am doing my best."
Sonko says he has been held behind by matters such as election cases, and that a county of the number of days he has worked is only 30.
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