Evans Kidero: I didn’t think Sonko had the skills to run Nairobi

Homa Bay gubernatorial aspirant Dr Evans Kidero now says that he had given a heads up to former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on the troubles of running the country’s capital at the end of his first term in 2017.

Kidero, who was the first governor of the county says that at the expiration of his first term, he warned Sonko that governing the county called for heightened skills, which he thought his successor lacked.

“I remember when I was handing over to Mike Sonko I told him that I wish him well. I did tell him that because I knew what in deed it takes to run because it requires great interpersonal skills, quite a lot of planning, a lot of execution and supervision which I didn’t think whoever was succeeding me had.”

Kidero went on to speak on the current leadership which came to power after Sonko was ousted in 2020, citing corruption, and abuse of office among other allegations.

Incumbent governor Ann Kananu assumed office at a time when the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) was in charge of most roles.

Kidero, who admits to saying that ‘managing Nairobi was not a walk in the park’ at the time of his exit explained that the county requires specialised skills to manage it.

He posed: “If I was to ask you, who manages Nairobi now you would not tell me whether it is the governor or the NMS?”

"Probably, I was the one and only person who indeed had a formal handover with all documentation and with all minutes,” Kidero added.

On why he had resorted to contest for the Homa Bay seat, Kidero alluded that his decision was compelled by the fact he longed to see better delivery for his people and his vast experience in management.

“The people of Homa Bay came to me and told me that they haven’t seen anything that has been done in the county and they require someone with experience,” he said.