By The Weekly Vision Team
A section of politicians in Nairobi who are fiercely opposed to Governor Johnson Sakaja style of leadership have hatched a secret plan to transfer specific functions from the county to the national government. The plan, dubbed ‘save the city from collapse’, will be similar to what happened under Governor Mike Sonko. Many believe that Sakaja has not been able to effectively lead Nairobi, and there are only two viable options available to prevent the city from collapsing.
Analysts maintain that the plan to remove Governor Sakaja from office has already been finalized and is merely a matter of time. The elected leaders who are leading the charge for his removal cite numerous reasons, including rampant corruption, inadequate service delivery, mismanagement of county revenues, and his tendency to work independently. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is said to be the driving force behind plans to remove Mr Sakaja from his position. Gachagua’s recent public outbursts around allegations about the governor holding a fake university degree should not be underestimated.
According to our sources, the Mount Kenya leaders in Nairobi are allegedly planning to have one of their own to assume the top position in the county government. The individual being pushed to replace Mr Sakaja in the event of a successful impeachment is his deputy, Njoroge Muchiri. According to credible sources, there is a growing belief among Nairobi politicians that Governor Johnson Sakaja has failed to deliver on his pledges, leading to concerns about the city’s ability to deliver services to residents. As a result, the politicians are actively working on two proposals to prevent the imminent collapse of Nairobi.
The governor is a strong supporter of President Ruto, and the best way for the president to assist him is by transferring certain responsibilities to the national government instead of backing his removal from office. Many have, however, been taken aback by the fact that the president has opted to stay silent amidst the continuous attacks against the governor. The president has shown no sign of defending his political buddy.
The primary alternative involves impeaching the governor, while the secondary option suggests the transfer of select functions to the national government, adopting a similar model as that of the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). The plan to remove Mr Sakaja from office is gaining momentum day by day, sources say. The growing support is observed among legislators affiliated with both the opposition and the government sides, from both the parliament and the county assembly of Nairobi.
Currently, the opposition and the government appear to agree that Sakaja has failed the people of Nairobi. It is now a matter of whether he will step down willingly or be forcibly removed from office. The key question remains whether the advocates of this course of action can amass the necessary support to remove the governor and if they can successfully persuade the Senate to uphold the impeachment. As it stands now, Sakaja’s standing in the Senate is precarious, as he has persistently undermined senators by disregarding crucial committee invitations meant to address the audit queries at the Nairobi City Government. This behavior has greatly diminished his support among senators.
It is widely believed among senators that Sakaja shows little regard for them, and should he face impeachment, the backers of the motion are certain that most senators will support his removal. Furthermore, the tribal politics in Nairobi are seen as a disadvantage for Sakaja. It is no secret that leaders from the Mount Kenya region are planning for one of their own to become the governor of Nairobi in 2027.
It is worth noting that since the inception of devolution, there has not been a Kikuyu governor in Nairobi. This has led to a concerted effort within the Kikuyu community to ensure that the next governor of Nairobi is of Kikuyu descent, regardless of any circumstances that may arise. It is now widely recognized that Sakaja has not lived up to the voters’ expectations in managing the city’s affairs.
