How would a state that can’t keep NHIF afloat run Nairobi?

What happened at State House this week has left many Kenyans wondering whether they still have a say in the running of this country, or they should just surrender their identity cards and wait for the second coming of Jesus.

There is no dispute that Nairobi residents have suffered at the hands of those entrusted with the protection of public resources and private businesses. We have felt the curse of letting a drama king become governor, and we do not wish to go back to the dark days.

But questions must be asked why Governor Mike Sonko decided to hand over the running of crucial county functions to the national government without first consulting the people of Nairobi.

The people might have elected an attention-seeking governor, but this was not the best excuse to show off his new suit and colourless goggles.

For a man who promised to fight ravenous cartels to his last breath, there is something stinking about the way Sonko signed away our birthright without drama — when we have seen him scream his lungs out and bite those trying to tie his hands for less.

This is not the same Sonko who choked the life out of Polycarp Igathe for refusing to roughen his smooth edges. The one who has always reminded us that he doesn’t fear going to jail if it means defending the poor, protecting public property, and exposing deadbeat dads.

Throughout his political life, Sonko has carved out the image of an invincible bulldozer, who gets over stumbling blocks with the effortlessness of a thoroughbred pro.

We now know it was all for show, and never again shall we entrust the destiny of our country to showmen masquerading as human-rights defenders.

But this is not what Nairobi residents had in mind when we asked for help from above. If the national government has a problem with Sonko, they know where he lives and they should go to his house and ask him to surrender his assets because that is the only private property he can sign away without asking for anyone’s opinion.

That a select group of national government bureaucrats saw it fit to sit somewhere in a corner and partition the city government functions shows how condescending they are to those who gave them the power.

This move has set a bad precedent for devolution and the rule of law. If all it requires to surrender county functions are two men sitting at a table and signing trade-offs without the input of the public, how safe are the remaining counties from their reach?

We are not going to protect devolution by allowing those overthrowing the public interest to get close to the centre of policymaking.

Think about Turkana County with all its crude oil and aquifers. What would prevent the national government from using the Nairobi template to cart away these resources without sending them fare to come for public participation workshops?

The Council of Governors may not admit it, but whatever has happened to Nairobi City County has the potential of happening to any one of them.

Kenyans have had complaints about the annual devolution conferences being turned into a bazaar of high-end cars and big empty talk.

This is the time for the CoG to redeem its image by marshalling Kenyans to discuss this weighty matter before the national government sends them to join unemployed graduates in the job market.

Devolution is about the people who pay taxes to run the government, which in turn must act in good faith in using the power they hold in trust.

If those perceived to be anti-government get arrested on trumped-up charges to silence their clamour for an alternative view, what makes you think it won’t be you next time when the shoe will be on the other foot?

When powers are being taken away from Nairobi County because the State has issues with the governor’s tongue, what makes you think they will not accuse your governor of smelling like minced meat before transferring your county to their kitchen?

They are taking power away from the people, something we did not approve, and it should never happen again.

This is the same government that cannot even run the National Hospital Insurance Fund to save its life, and they want us to believe they can manage Nairobi with all the matatu chaos and potholes.

If the national government wanted to kill devolution, why hide behind Sonko when they could just have used the coronavirus scare as an excuse to announce a countrywide state of emergency?