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Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

Governor Mike Sonko has been summoned to appear before a Senate committee over claims that he is sabotaging the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in its delivery of the Health function.

The Senate committee on Health said it wants the  embattled Sonko to shed light on outstanding issues relating to the transfer of Health function to NMS.  

 “I am hereby ruling that Sonko appears before this committee on Monday at 11am without fail.

We will not give him any other opportunity,” Trans-Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito and chairman of the Senate Committee on Health.

“We want to have a detailed meeting with the Governor and his team in a bid to address all outstanding issues being raised by NMS,” he added.

After hearing the governor, Senator Mbito said the committee will then invite NMS to appear before it.

If the governor fails to appear, the committee warned, he risks serious sanctions, which are not limited to a fine of Sh500,000 for non-appearance.

Health docket is among the four key functions that Governor Sonko surrendered to the national government.

Critical functions

However, Sonko, who has declared a dispute over the transfer of four critical functions has been in a constant fight with NMS boss Major-General Mohamed Badi over city management.

With the latest development being an accusation by NMS that the governor is withholding up to  Sh253 million meant to benefit health centers across the city. 

Yesterday, Sonko did not appear before the nine-member panel as scheduled, instead sent his CEC for Public Service Vesca Kangogo, acting County Secretary Justus Kathenge and his spokesperson Ben Mulwa to represent him.

Sonko and Badi have been at logger heads with the later claiming City Hall had refused to surrender Sh127 million held in a Special Purpose Account at the Central Bank.

According to testimony before the committee, NMS Director for Health Services Dr Josephine Kibaru- Mbae, the monies meant to benefit level two and three hospitals are still held by the county and the signatories to the account have not been changed to officers of NMS mandated to execute the Health function.