Sakaja: I respect Gachagua as my elder, even though he’s new to politics
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has been forced to go public again to explain his relationship with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The two are said to be having problems following new policies introduced by Sakaja’s administration to transform the city.
In his latest address to the media at his Nairobi office on April 26, the governor reiterated that he has no problems with the DP, saying he respects him not only because he is the second in command, but also because he is his elder, who has risen through the ranks in a very short time despite being in politics.
“I’m not indifferent to the deputy president, he is an elder who is respected and who has been in politics, even though he found us in politics, but he gained fame to become the deputy president. He deserves respect,” said Sakaja.
The governor added that he had never uttered any words that could be seen as disparaging the deputy president and that the two did not share the same ambitions.
“I don’t want to be deputy president and I know he (Gachagua) doesn’t want to be governor either. If we were competing for the same seats, there would have been questions.”
Sakaja also said he had been working closely with Gachagua, attending several meetings, including the inter-agency team on flooding led by the DP.
Recent comments by the DP that the district needs full attention to address several challenges surrounding the town raise more questions.
Speaking when he attended the Lang’ata Constituency Women’s Group meeting, the DP said the Kenya Kwanza government was keen on the issues surrounding the county, hence the need to bring everyone on board, even those perceived as rivals to the governor, including Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi.
“We will work with everyone, every leader who is elected, regardless of political persuasion, is our partner in development as leaders in government. And we will clean this city together to make it as clean as it was before,” Gachagua said.
The DP is also said to favour Embakasi North MP James Gakuya for the UDA chairmanship in Nairobi, a position Sakaja also wants.
According to the DP, Gakuya is the best person to consolidate the party’s popularity in Nairobi, which has been dominated by the Azimio La Umoja since the last elections in which they won the majority of MP and MCA seats.
Sakaja has also been accused by some UDA MCAs in the assembly of working closely with the Azimio MCAs and rewarding some of the positions in his administration to people allied to the Azimio side.
However, the governor has said that the county is a city for everyone and that everyone deserves a chance, regardless of political affiliation or tribe.