Nairobi County Chief Officer Dismisses Corruption Allegations: "Records Are Above Board"
- Nairobi City County Finance Chief Officer Asha Abdi dismissed corruption allegations against Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration
- Asha highlighted the county’s achievements, including a 32% increase in revenue collection to KSh 9.34 billion by March 2024
- She defended the administration’s progress, citing refurbished roads in Nairobi’s CBD and urging critics to base their opinions on facts rather than misinformation
- Asha emphasised the county’s commitment to accountability and service delivery, crediting Sakaja’s administration for surpassing previous regimes
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi City County Government Finance Chief Officer Asha Abdi has dismissed corruption allegations levelled against Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration.
Source: Twitter
Asha has dismissed critics, insisting that the county’s financial records are transparent and above board.
In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Asha defended the county’s progress, stating that critics are unaware of the significant strides made in revenue collection and procurement processes.
She acknowledged that the county is not immune to criticism but urged detractors to base their opinions on facts rather than misinformation.
"As a department, we have worked hard to try and erase the mess that has bedevilled the county and we can see improvement in revenue collections which has enabled the county to invest more in road infrastructure, school feeding program with our partners and many more," she said.
Asha spoke after touring newly refurbished roads along Tom Mboya Street in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD).
She lauded the county’s efforts in improving infrastructure, stating that the administration remains committed to making Nairobi more habitable.
"We refurbished various roads in the central business district and we must appreciate that the county has done something and we shall continue with this untill CBD becomes habitable," said Asha.
The road projects are part of the county’s broader plan to improve infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for Nairobi residents.
What is Sakaja's scorecard in Nairobi?
The chief officer praised Sakaja’s administration, stating that it had achieved more in two years than previous regimes.
"Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya demand that we in the power must be accountable to our people because they have entrusted us with the state power and we acknowledge that positive criticism is also healthy for growth but it must be constructive and objective," Asha stressed.
According to Asha, the county has witnessed tremendous growth in revenue collection under her docket.
Source: Twitter
She explained that City Hall collected a record KSh 9.34 billion by the end of March 2024, a 32% increase from KSh 7.12 billion in the same period in 2023.
"We strengthened our collections in various revenue streams including single business permit, parking, land rates among other streams.This has maximised service delivery and the county is able to sustain essential services especially in our hospitals," she explained.
The increased revenue has allowed the county to embark on critical projects, including road refurbishments and healthcare improvements.
Why did Sifuna tell off Sakaja?
As reported earlier, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed frustration over Sakaja's absence from a Senate committee meeting addressing corruption allegations.
Sakaja was summoned to discuss concerns about the Auditor General's reports but was abroad on the scheduled date.
County Secretary Patrick Analo notified the committee of Sakaja's unavailability, requesting a rescheduled meeting.
Sifuna criticised the governor's absence, highlighting the importance of accountability in county administration.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
