Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. [Photo/The Star]
Former Nairobi county boss Evans Kidero has rubbished claims that revenue collection at City Hall has increased since his successor Governor Mike Sonko assumed office.
Instead, Kidero accused Sonko of inflating the figures while claiming that revenue collection had risen to Sh38 billion daily for the short period he’s been in office.
He said seasonal parking tickets are usually for the over 30,000 Public Service Vehicles in the CBD which are typically paid for during the first week of the month, hence the ‘sudden’ increased revenue collection.
Kidero was responding to President Uhuru’s Saturday claims that he used county resources to fund NASA leader Raila Odinga’s campaigns.
He said he has never given money from the county government to NASA or any of their principals, and that Uhuru should desist from such comments.
“I’ve never given money to Kalonzo or Moses Wetang'ula. I’m asking the President to stop making frivolous statements. He is the symbol of unity,” said Kidero as quoted by the Standard.
He said Kalonzo and Raila have run presidential campaigns before and thus are able to fund their campaigns even now.
“Raila Odinga vied for the presidency in 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013 with Kalonzo Musyoka and there were no devolved units then, yet they funded their campaigns,” he added.
Kidero made the remarks Sunday during a church service in Nairobi’s Umoja Estate.
On Saturday, Uhuru claimed the reason the NASA camp was appealing for donations from well-wishers was because they were broke.
He said Sonko had sealed all loopholes they used to loot cash after he became Nairobi governor.
“Now they can’t steal from Kenyans to run their political affairs and that is why they’re carrying around paybill numbers,” said the president during a Jubilee rally at Uhuru Park.