Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko may have been elected to restore the City's past glories and pluck it out of its dark days but that seems a pretty tall order for the defiant governor who seems to have a special liking for the controversies.
It seems it is going to take a lot longer than expected for Sonko to move out of his 'Cage of Shame' and become the leader that all Nairobians thought he would one day become. Indeed, most Nairobians believed Sonko was the leader to guide them through the hard financial times and increasingly difficult living conditions that have so engulfed the city ever since the turn the decade. Many saw him as the man to restore the city's past glory as well as possibly occupy the presidency when he entered the fray of Kenyan politics in his late 20s.
Well, that belief has evaporated over the years with the governor proving, on a consistent basis, that he has no intentions whatsoever of becoming who they want or wish he becomes.
The recent leaking of a phone call with a woman alleged to be Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has gone a long way in allaying any belief in the redemption of a governor who had been quite quiet up until that moment. Controversies associated with him seemed to have gone down considerably and he was on his best behaviour just yet.
A good percentage of Nairobians are going to be very disturbed at such incidences despite being hopeful that the governor would somehow drift out of his rather dirty antics and grow to become the leader they so wish to see.
Late last year, Sonko was under the spotlight for not very different reasons after he leaked a number of private phone conversations with prominent politicians and businessmen in the city. The terrible thing about it all is that these leaked phone calls are flooded on Facebook and the likes of Twitter, and all platforms available. I strongly believe the county boss would have done better than that and then perhaps shared the phone calls with a select audience, if at all he believed there was anything to be shared.
His leaking of private phone calls is actually sowing hatred and animosity within the very people he is supposed to unite and serve. In the Kenyan reigns and the larger picture of the political arena, this kind of behaviour is insulting, in many ways.
There is also his reluctance to select a Deputy Governor which nearly became a court case. It is, of course, a terrible showing given the fact that every Nairobian expects to be served in the best way possible. It seems to me, though, that Sonko seems to be standing in between development and Nairobians. He, sadly, seems so comfortable with impunity, immaturity and a good percentage of the negative attributes any leader may not want to have.
Time may be pivotal in helping shape his mindset though but given how fast it's moving, Sonko may not have that chance and what a pity it will be to all Nairobians.
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