President Kenyatta criticises Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko in Labour Day of firsts

President Uhuru Kenyatta greets Kenyans who were gathered at Uhuru Park during the Labour Day celebrations on May 1, 2015. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• In an off-the-cuff remark during the Labour Day celebrations, the President said Nairobi residents should support Dr Kidero “because you elected him”.
• The senator — who arrived minutes after President Kenyatta and walked up to the dais to greet him — has lately heightened his battle against the governor.
• The President was, however, unhappy with the senator’s activities, saying he should wait until he gets elected to the position.
• President Kenyatta spoke in Kiswahili for about 20 minutes, putting aside the English speech, which he said had been “written well” for him to read.
• The opposition was fully represented for the first time since the Jubilee coalition came to power.

By JEREMIAH KIPLANG'AT
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Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has lost the national government’s support in his push to topple Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero through his provision of side services to county residents.

On Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged support for the governor, dismissing Mr Sonko’s philanthropic endeavours.

In an off-the-cuff remark during the Labour Day celebrations, the President said Nairobi residents should support Dr Kidero “because you elected him”.

The senator — who arrived minutes after President Kenyatta and walked up to the dais to greet him — has lately heightened his battle against the governor by introducing free side services through the Sonko Rescue Team.

The services include borehole drilling, wedding and funeral transport, sewer cleaning, fire fighting and free ambulances in the city.

The President was, however, unhappy with the senator’s activities, saying he should wait until he gets elected to the position.

The President said: “Wacheni hiyo mambo yenu ya Sonko bwana, wacha niwambie kitu kimoja: Leo hii, mpende msipende, gavana ni Kidero. Miaka ingine ikikuja, vile mmesema, mtachagua yule mnataka. Wakati ikifika mjipange, lakini mheshimu yule mlichagua, si mimi nilichagua, (Stop this Sonko theatrics (and) let me tell you something: Whether you like it or not the governor is (Dr) Kidero. When the time comes, you will elect who you want. Let us respect those who you elected).”

Mr Sonko had also bought his supporters branded umbrellas, which they displayed during the celebrations.

Dr Kidero has in the past threatened to seize Mr Sonko’s fleet of cars, saying they were operating illegally.

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko greets President Uhuru Kenyatta at the International Labour Day celebrations held at Uhuru Park on May 1, 2015. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

LABOUR DAY OF FIRSTS
Today’s Labour Day was full of firsts.

Unlike previous Labour Days, which were marked with long speeches, Friday’s was probably the shortest ever, as it came to an end at 11.20am after the President gave his unwritten speech.

President Kenyatta spoke in Kiswahili for about 20 minutes, putting aside the English speech, which he said had been “written well” for him to read.

He told the amused crowd that Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli would read the speech for them.

It was the first time he had gone against the known protocol of reading the speech in English then switching to Kiswahili at the end, a procedure that had also been the norm for past presidents.

He went against another protocol when he walked straight to the crowd to greet them after stepping down from the podium, giving his security officers a nightmare as it appeared they were caught unawares.

Three officers had to lean on the crowd of people stretching their hands to greet the President to stop them from falling on the Head of State.

The opposition was fully represented for the first time since the Jubilee coalition came to power, after Cord leader Raila Odinga led an entourage to the celebrations shortly after the President arrived.

None of them got a chance to address the workers as they followed the Head of State out of the venue.

President Uhuru Kenyatta greets Cord leader Raila Odinga during Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, on May 1, 2015.

The normally talkative Mr Atwoli was economical with words but did not forget to take a dig at the suspended Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi, with whom he has had a frosty relationship since Mr Kambi was appointed two years ago.

Mr Atwoli asked the President not to bring back the suspended officials facing corruption accusations.

Francis Atwoli, the Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, addresses Kenyans at Uhuru Park during the International Labour Day celebrations on May 1, 2015.