I Won't Defend My Seat in 2022, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Declares

Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has said that he does not intend to defend his seat in 2022 general elections.

Speaking during an interview with Standard, the flamboyant Governor said he wants to leave a legacy in his first term in office and won't fight to retain the seat. He further noted that he has never sought for reelection in his political career.

"I want to leave a legacy because I will not be running for a second term. I have never run for the same office twice in my political life, so why should this be the first time? I will deliver and leave an efficient office for Nairobians then move on to the next assignment for Kenyans," Sonko noted.

Sonko served as Member of Parliament for Makadara after winning a by-election in 2010 and was later elected first Nairobi senator in 2013 general elections.

Asked on his next political move and on whether he would run for Presidency, Sonko said: "Don’t get ahead of yourself! I could even vie for a county assembly seat (MCA). I mean, that is one seat I have never contested for!
But for now, my focus is on working round-the-clock to ensure that we get Nairobi running like the world class city it ought to be."

On being rated as one of the least performing governors in their first 100 days in office by a recently released poll, Sonko noted: "You cannot rate a cosmopolitan county like Nairobi with a provincial county within 100 days. We don’t even receive the same sharable revenue within those days."

He added: "There are so much we have achieved since taking office, including increasing and streamlining revenue collection, curbing corruption and now we are closing in on the city cartels that I inherited from my predecessor who have messed this city."