Kidero plans to report to work Monday

By LILLIAN ONYANGO laonyango@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, March 8  2013 at  17:02

Nairobi’s Governor-elect Evans Kidero plans to take office on Monday as he awaits the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for two weeks.

Dr Kidero, who will be the first governor of the capital city, held a press conference on Friday where he said he is ready to take over his new role.

“I know that the people of Nairobi will be as impatient as I am in getting things going and to this end I have had discussions with the Transition Authority and we will start no later than Monday morning,” he said.

Dr Kidero reiterated his promise to make Nairobi a more attractive city for investors.

“We will work tirelessly to make sure their (residents) aspirations and dreams are fulfilled by putting up strategies that will attract investments that will help the expansion of small to medium size businesses as outlined in Vision 2030,” he said.

Dr Kidero won the Nairobi governorship with 692,483 votes, beating his main competitor Ferdinand Waititu who got 617,839 votes.

Prominent businessman Jimnah Mbaru took third place with 52,084 votes while former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia came fourth with 5,182 votes.

“The people of Nairobi spoke loudly and clearly on the kind of leadership they want which is competent, caring and that can deliver,” Dr Kidero said.

He said he will introduce “simple technologies” that will make it possible to spur growth of business in the city.

Dr Kidero was accompanied by his running mate Mr Jonathan Mueke.

He reached out to his opponents in the race for governorship and urged them to work with him.

“Despite having not won, you still have a major role to play,” he said, adding that his offer to work with Mr Waititu is still open.

At the same time, the governor-in-waiting appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace as they prepare to receive the final presidential results from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

“I think for the first time in the city of Nairobi, we have finished our campaigns without a single person shedding blood. Campaigns weRE done with love and peace. That same peace should be maintained,” Dr Kidero said.