The Nairobi Annual Development Plan plans to spend Sh20 million renovating the official governor's residence in Lavington which has been unoccupied since 2018 (see P20).
The residence was last used by the former Executive for Education. Former Governor Mike Sonko preferring his Runda residence and his home in Machakos. Nairobi's first governor Evans Kidero chose to stay in his Muthaiga house.
Nairobi county and Nairobi Metropolitan Services have also been feuding about who the house belongs to.
So Sh20 million is to be spent upgrading a house that no-one particularly wants to live in and without it being clear that the Nairobi governor will actually live there.
Does this make sense? Many Nairobi residents live in very difficult circumstances in informal settlements such as Mathare, Kibera and Korogocho.
That Sh20 million could be used to provide clean water, improved sanitation and paved roads so that the residents of informal settlements could live more comfortably.
The state has no obligation to provide ministers, governors, speakers with official residences. It should be only the President and Deputy President who have official residences – and often even they choose not to stay there.
Quote of the day: "If I do not become Mwami, will that prevent me from fighting for you?"
Prince Louis Rwagasore
Burundi's Prime Minister was assassinated on October 13, 1961
