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Tuesday 22 October 2013

Uhuru’s surprise lunch hour call on city governor

Uhuru’s surprise lunch hour call on city governor
Uhuru’s surprise lunch hour call on city governor
The President chats with Kidero in his office


The People in National October 23, 2013
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero had a surprise lunch guest yesterday, when President Uhuru Kenyatta made an impromptu call on his office, reportedly without prior arrangement. The President, who had just presided over the Annual Taxpayers’ Award ceremony at KICC walked across to Kidero’s City Hall office for a meeting, which sources said Kidero was warned about minutes before.
As President Uhuru and his security detail crossed the road, Kidero, in a white shirt and without a jacket, was seen shortly looking down from his office window smiling. The Head of State was accompanied by Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko. The private meeting, also attended by President Kenyatta’s Private Secretary Jomo Gecaga, Chief of Staff and Head of Civil Service, Joseph Kinyua, Speaker of the County Assembly Alex Magelo and county chief of staff George Wainaina, is said to have dwelt on the runaway insecurity in the city.
Kidero’s office reportedly made quick efforts to offer their executive guest lunch during the meeting that lasted about an hour. Sources said the courtesy call was purely on security and Uhuru lauded the county’s effort to install surveillance cameras in the city. This is the first time President Uhuru has paid a courtesy call to a governor and shared a “cup of tea”, as a source from the Governor’s office described it.

The Presidential Strategic Communications Unit later issued a statement, saying the President and Kidero discussed other issues affecting the city and agreed on the need for regular consultations between the national and county governments to ensure improved services to citizens. Security initiative Sources privy to the meeting said Uhuru and the Governor discussed the proposed ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative, a security programme recently launched by the Interior ministry.
Under Nyuma Kmi, Kenyans are supposed to know at least 10 households around your residence well to curb insecurity. “Let’s work together irrespective of our party affiliation,” said Uhuru, according to our source, as he recalled the unity witnessed during last month’s terror attack at the Westgate Shopping Mall. He said the government wants to invest in equipping the security forces to build capacity to deter and contain all forms of violence and criminality.
Kidero said he is consulting with his counterparts from neighbouring counties to see how best they can manage and use resources within their jurisdiction for the benefit of the residents. The insecurity issue comes hot on the heels of the appointment of Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Francis Munyambu to head Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, which is under the process of formation to replace the draconian City Inspectorate.
Kidero was reported to have briefed the President on the task force he has formed, chaired by former Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo, who is the currently the County Executive Member (Minister) in charge of Water and Environment at City Hall. The team has been tasked with fast tracking ongoing projects between the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and the Athi Water Services Board. – By NDUNG’U SARAH

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