THE STANDARD By
Daniel Wesangula |
January 29th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
John King’ori (second left) with his supporters outside the High Court in 1994. [File, Courtesy]
John King’ori Mwangi, colourful former Nairobi mayor, died last week. For years, King’ori was the epitome of what defined leadership in the capital.
At the height of his powers, King’ori believed his tenure was divine, ordained by God. He heard a calling to save the city and restore its fading glory, and he answered it with gusto.
The year was 1994. City residents were suffocating in the stench of garbage that choked every alley. Chronic water problems necessitated the birth of water bowser cartels that continue to dominate some neighborhoods. Rolling blackouts were the norm and neighbourhoods would go 12 hours during the day or night without power.