Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has handover the county government to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Functions of Nairobi County Government handed over to the National Government pursuant to Article 187 of the Constitution,” State House spokesperson Kanze Dena-Mararo said in a statement to media houses on Tuesday.
In the unprecedented move, Governor Sonko and signed an agreement with Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa in concurrence with President Kenyatta handing over functions of the county to the National Government.
The agreement was signed in State House, Nairobi.
The signing was witnessed by Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and Attorney General Paul Kihara.
The National Government, therefore, will take over health, transport public works and planning and development.
“This will ensure Nairobi residents receive services efficiently.
The move comes as a breakthrough in the running of county services that had ground to a halt,” the statement said.
According to Article 187 of the Constitution, a function or power of government at one level may be transferred to a government at the other level by agreement between the governments if–
(a) the function or power would be more effectively performed or exercised by the receiving government; and
(b) the transfer of the function or power is not prohibited by the legislation under which it is to be performed or exercised.
(2) If a function or power is transferred from a government at one level to a government at the other level–
(a) arrangements shall be put in place to ensure that the resources necessary for the performance of the function or exercise of the power are transferred; and
(b) constitutional responsibility for the performance of the function or exercise of the power shall remain with the government to which it is assigned by the Fourth Schedule.
Sonko was barred from office after he was charged with a Sh357 million tender corruption scandal.
Sonko, who was facing impeachment, had until Monday at 10.00 am to submit written replies to the allegations raised in the notice of motion on impeachment.
County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi earlier in the day directed the clerk to serve Sonko with the notice of motion.
