Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was conspicuously absent from Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment hearing at the Senate on Wednesday, October 16.
While the Senate went on with impeachment proceedings, Governor Sakaja was over 10,000 miles away in Mexico City, participating in the prestigious Bloomberg CityLab 2024 summit.
“Later today, Bloomberg CityLab reporter Fola Akinnibi will join Governor H.E. Sakaja Arthur Johnson of Nairobi, Kenya, to talk about what cities can learn from putting young people at the heart of decision-making,” the event programme announced, highlighting Sakaja’s role as a keynote speaker.
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Sakaja’s Affidavit
Although physically absent from the proceedings, Sakaja’s voice was present through a submitted affidavit.
- Trader Relocation Controversy: Sakaja accused Gachagua of interfering with the county’s decision to relocate traders from Wakulima Market to Kangundo Road Market.
- Violation of Separation of Powers: The affidavit alleged that Gachagua “violated the principle of separation of powers” by holding rallies that incited public opposition to lawful county decisions.
- Ethnic Sentiments and Traffic Management: Sakaja claimed that Gachagua used ethnic rhetoric to disrupt efforts to reorganize Nairobi’s traffic, particularly in the relocation of matatu terminals.
- Liquor Control Interference: The Governor labeled Gachagua’s alleged interference in county liquor control regulation as “reckless” and “demeaning,” arguing that such actions amounted to impeachable offenses by undermining the authority of county governments.
The absence of Sakaja from the Senate hearing didn’t go unnoticed by key players in the impeachment process. Ndegwa Njiru, Gachagua’s lawyer, took to social media platform X to express his disappointment at missing the opportunity to cross-examine the Nairobi Governor.
Bloomberg Summit
While the political storm brewed in Nairobi, Governor Sakaja was engaging in discussions about urban governance and youth participation in city policies at the Bloomberg summit.
A snippet later released by Bloomberg showed Sakaja discussing Nairobi’s subsidized meals programme, a topic worlds apart from the contentious issues being debated in the Senate.
“We’ve been able to provide meals at 100 Kenya shillings, which is less than a dollar,” Sakaja was seen explaining, showcasing Nairobi’s efforts to address urban poverty and food security.
