Governor Sakaja Pulls a Punch Back at DP Gachagua

Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja is finally pulling a punch back at DP Rigathi Gachagua, after the two went heads-on on the Marikiti market issue. Sakaja felt that Gachagua had meddled in the running of the Nairobi County affairs for a second time, and has found a way to strike back. Here are the details.

The Onset of the Sakaja-Gachagua Feud

Embattled DP Rigathi Gachagua and Johnson Sakaja have not been getting along of late as the DP is seen to continually interfere in the affairs of the Nairobi County Government; the latest being a rally Gachagua held at Marikiti, encouraging the traders to resist the county government’s directive to move to the Kangundo Market.

A DP who Meddles in the Running of Nairobi County Government

According to Sakaja, this was not the first time the deputy president was meddling in the affairs of the capital city county. As a result, the political tension between the two blew over, with a feud bubbling in social media and later on the political stage. Even more, after the DP conducted the rally at the Marikiti market, Sakaja could not take it anymore and called Gachagua out publicly and supported the then rumors of the DP’s looming impeachment motion.

The impeachment motion came to be, interestingly, and was tabled on Parliament on 1st October, kicking off the two-week process to pluck the deputy president from his seat. But then, Sakaja has gone on to strike back at the DP.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja Files an Affidavit Pushing for Gachagua’s Impeachment

Governor Sakaja and 3 others filed affidavits in support of the impeachment motion against Gachagua, which were submitted to parliament as evidence. In the affidavit, Sakaja alleged that the DP “unlawfully” interfered with the running of the county’s affairs, specifically the running of the county’s markets, a role that is not his. Sakaja further went on to point out that this was the second time Gachagua was meddling in the running of Nairobi County, and called him out for not respecting the “dignified” DP position in government. Sakaja alleges that DP Gachagua had earlier interfered in the traffic issues in the city, specifically in the relocation of public service vehicle stages.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja files an affidavit supporting the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over misconduct that includes incitement along tribal lines and interference with county governance.

In the affidavit, Governor Sakaja states that DP Gachagua’s… pic.twitter.com/TUfLLhIEPn

— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) October 5, 2024

The affidavit, along with others from the likes of the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mercy Wanjau, are expected to be in strong support of the motion to impeach Gachagua. It is also likely that the individuals who brought them forward, including Sakaja, could appear as “witnesses” and testify in Tuesday’s parliamentary debate on the impeachment motion.

Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau is set to testify against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of opposing the Cabinet-approved evacuation of residents living within 30 meters of the Nairobi River, which she claims undermined government policy and collective… pic.twitter.com/S48XhTj1ku

— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) October 6, 2024

Gachagua’s Chances at Beating the Impeachment Motion

Gachagua and/or his representatives are expected to be there to defend their position, but ultimately, it is the MPs who will decide the DP’s fate. As things stand, however, Gachagua’s chances at surviving the impeachment motion seem at best slim, even as he has assembled what is supposed to be a formidable 20-counsel force to defend him. 291 MPs out of the 349 signed the impeachment motion against him, catapulting it to its tabling in parliament last week. Things look bleak for the deputy president and he seems to recognize this pushing him to apologize to the president on Sunday.

DP Gachagua Apologizes to President Ruto Ahead of Impeachment Proceedings Against Him in Parliament on Tuesday
Gachagua called on the president to “find it in his heart” to forgive him and his spouse#GachaguaImpeachment #RiggyG #ManiaNews #KenyanPolitics https://t.co/i3XTyY5q13

— David Mania (@daviemaniaa) October 7, 2024

Sakaja Pulling Back a Punch at Gachagua

Gov. Sakaja, hitherto perceived to be a neutral party in the national political scene, is seemingly going all out on this one and looks to be set to help take the DP down in a big way. So much for ‘betrayal in the city‘. Gachagua defended himself against Sakaja’s utterances that he had interfered on the issue of the market, by saying that he had urged his followers to vote for Sakaja.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua shares a message of encouragement with his staff amid ongoing impeachment motion against him, urging them not to be discouraged by the current tribulations but to continue serving Kenyans with competence and commitment. pic.twitter.com/h2E6ElYZ7v

— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) October 6, 2024

The Irony of Sakaja’s Performance as Nairobi County Governor

At the same time, Sakaja has himself come under heavy fire from Nairobi residents, as he has been accused of not leading the capital city county steadfastly. Nairobi City County was also mentioned as the city that underutilized its tax collections and national government budgetary allocations the most, ironically, even as most counties in the country are grappling with a shortage of funds. As they say, you never really know what you’ve got until its gone, and by the look of things, pundits say, the DP is going home, partly thanks to Sakaja’s intervention.

Read more on the impeachment proceedings in the ‘Gachagua impeachment series‘