Sifuna, Cherargei Gang Up Against Sakaja Over Handshake Calls
The lawmaker further demanded Sakaja to focus on making preparations in advance ahead of...
Marvin Chege 
Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna and his Nandi counterpart, Samson Cherargei, slammed Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja over his calls to President William Ruto to engage the opposition to avert the mass action set for Monday, March 20.
Sifuna on Monday, March 13 termed hot air in Sakaja's sentiments made after a church service in Roysambu, Nairobi on Sunday, March 12, terming instances where dialogue was never required in certain scenarios.
He listed the protests by Nairobi traders who even marched to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's office against China Square and the banditry menace in the North Rift region as scenarios where dialogue was not involved.
"No one called for dialogue between Nyamakima traders and China Square during their maandamano. No one has called for dialogue with bandits in Rift, because you don’t dialogue with thieves.
"We want those calling for “dialogue “ to know we cannot dialogue with election thieves," Sifuna hit out at Sakaja.
The lawmaker further demanded Sakaja to focus on making preparations in advance ahead of a mass protest set for Monday, March 20, 2023, which would see Azimio supporters stage an anti-President Ruto procession in Nairobi.
"Governor Sakaja should focus on preparing the City for our visitors on the 20th. We want clean public toilets, drinkable water in the CBD, our ambulances and medical facilities on standby, traffic marshalls to guide traffic and protect the visitors etc," he added.
Cherargei on his part slammed the governor over the purported handshake calls while warning of the dangers of Raila being near the Head of State.
“Sakaja Johnson on this you are wrong, Raila shall not be near our beloved H.E Ruto.
"You can go ahead and do handshake/hand cheque with Raila alone the way you have done with Azimio-OKA remnants in Kanairo. Raila should start looking for glucose for Monday because of the fast pace that it is coming,” stated Cherargei.
Sakaja claimed that Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, presented legitimate concerns that cannot be ignored, even though he maintained that nobody wants a handshake.
He urged the Head of State to make the 'hard' decisions for the sake of Kenyans and for progress in the country, referring to previous governments who have made unfavourable decisions for the sake of the country.
"No one wants a handshake, no one wants nusu mkate but we must acknowledge all leaders and hear what are their legitimate concerns. In very tough times, even from the time of President Moi, decisions have been made that are bigger than an individual, this country is bigger than any one person," he addressed.
Sakaja claimed that while Ruto was demonstrating his willingness to work with Kenyans, there is a section of his allies who are pushing him into maintaining a hard stance against the opposition.
"However, there are some leaders who are trying to become hardliners, telling the president not to reach out.
"The politics of exclusion are not the politics of Kenya Kwanza. Its politics and leadership is politics of inclusion and I know that is what the President stands for despite being surrounded by people who are afraid of unity," he went on, further referring to the Bible which stated that blessed are the peacemakers.
The county boss further confirmed that he received concerns from a section of business owners and entrepreneurs in Nairobi regarding the mass action on March 20, but promised that there would be peace and stability in the capital city during that period, warning leaders against plunging the country into a crisis.
Governor Johnson Sakaja at Kahawa West at St. Joseph Mukasa church on March 12, 2023. /FACEBOOK.JOHNSON SAKAJA
