SPEECH BY H.E MIKE MBUVI SONKO, GOVERNOR NAIROBI CITY COUNTY DURING THE LIGHTING OF CHRISTMAS TREE AT CITY HALL, NAIROBI ON 22ND DECEMBER 2017.
Your Excellency the First Lady,
It’s my pleasure to welcome you to this important function and to thank you for having created time out of your busy schedule to grace this occasion. We feel deeply privileged.
You are all very welcome here this afternoon as we officially mark the beginning of the Christmas season by lighting the big Christmas tree.
On that note, to our sponsors, I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for joint preparation for this colorful event. We truly appreciate your continuous support and your very generous donations. Without your involvement we would not be able to make this day a success. I also salute my staff who have worked tirelessly towards the success of this event.
Your Excellency the First lady, Ladies and gentlemen,
The Christmas season is here with us, and it has been the tradition at City Hall to light the Christmas tree and spread joy this festive season.
This old and precious tradition reminds us to reflect on the year that is coming to an end, and to ensure that the vulnerable and orphaned children in our society enjoy Christmas too.
This holiday season, let us reaffirm our commitment to each other, as family members, as neighbors, as Kenyans, regardless of our colour, faith, political affiliation and ethnicity. Let us remember that we are one, and we are a family.
Let us be kind and share the little we have with vulnerable and the less fortunate members of the society.
Your Excellency the First lady, Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to briefly talk about road safety ahead of the festive season. Everyday many people are involved in road accidents. Some are killed. Many more are injured. Vehicle accidents are a big cause of death in our society. However, many of these tragic incidents are predictable and preventable.
Efforts by Traffic Police officers and National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) alone cannot ensure road safety. Each and every stakeholder has a role to play. I wish to plead with our drivers and other road users to strictly observe traffic rules and to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol.
Allow me to address some administrative issues at the Nairobi City County. Over the years, there have been cartels colluding with City hall staff to forcefully evict and fraudulently dislodge property owners using fake documents during festive season.
Today I direct all my staff that all evictions, demolitions of schools, churches, business premises and homes stand suspended with IMMEDIATE effect and anyone who dares to violate this DIRECTIVE shall be dealt with mercilessly and in accordance with the Law.
Please take note that any forceful eviction or demolition without a relocation option is illegal and violating of tenants’ rights amounts to violating of children’s rights to protection.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
For the first time in many years, staff salaries have been paid before Christmas as promised and this is purely from our local revenue, a practice we intend to continue with so that our equitable share from national government goes to service delivery.
Further, the County Government shall not accept suspected fictitious claims by dishonest cartels and fraudsters amongst others.
I hope you all have a wonderful time and I wish each and every one of you a very happy and peaceful Christmas and prosperous new year.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is now my great privilege to invite YOUR EXCELLENCY THE FIRST LADY to join me in cutting the cake and thereafter light the Christmas tree.
H.E MIKE MBUVI SONKO, EGH,
GOVERNOR
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