Sakaja Responds To Skipping Appearance At Senate To Testify Against Gachagua

Sakaja was arguably the most popular witness who was to testify against the second in command.

Sakaja Responds To Skipping Appearance At Senate To Testify Against Gachagua
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja chairing the Nairobi County Executive Committee (County Cabinet) on May 7, 2024. /JOHNSON SAKAJA

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Thursday, October 17 responded to queries by Kenyans on social media on why he did not show up at the Senate to testify against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Through his X account, the county boss sensationally claimed that the second in command's fate was sealed, and there was no need to save him from being impeached by the Senate.

"Hakuna haja ya kuskuma gari kwa mteremko. c'est fini," Sakaja responded. Loosely translated to "There is no need to push a car that is on a downhill slope. It is over."

Sakaja was arguably the most popular witness who was to testify against the second in command. Expected to be a key witness in the Senate trial, he was listed by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi among the National Assembly's witnesses.

Collage of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and Governor Johnson Sakaja (right). /DPPS.JOHNSON SAKAJA

However, he was nowhere near Parliament when the session kicked off. Sakaja was then revealed to have flown out of the country to Mexico to attend the 2024 Bloomberg CityLab.

As revealed by Bloomberg, he was invited to discuss what cities can learn from putting young people at the heart of decision-making.

His absence from the Senate hearing caught many by surprise, including Gachagua's lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, who took to X social media platform to express his anticipation of cross-examining Sakaja. The Nairobi Governor was expected to shed light on accusations levelled against the Deputy President, which form the basis of an impeachment motion tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.

Sakaja, whom Gachagua has been at loggerheads with on certain occasions, swore an affidavit,  accusing the second in command of opposing the relocation of traders from the Wakulima Market in the capital city to the Kangundo Road market, which is the decision of the Nairobi County government, not of the DP's office, therefore a violation of the principle of the separation of powers.

Moreover, Sakaja accused Gachagua of using ethnic sentiments to disrupt efforts to reorganise traffic within Nairobi, particularly in relocating matatu terminals. He argued that such actions undermined the county government's mandate and questioned the integrity of devolution in Kenya.

"His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua had previously interfered with the Nairobi City County Government's management of traffic within the city, especially the relocation of matatu terminals, through ethnic incitement," read the affidavit in part

"I earnestly believe that His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua's inciteful and demeaning public statements and conduct are impeachable offences to the extent that they undermine devolution, undercut the functional and institutional integrity of county governments and unjustifiably vilify and ridicule the leadership of county governments, especially the Nairobi City County Government."

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the Senate on October 16, 2024. /PARLIAMENT KENYA