Sakaja insists he will not rule Nairobi under tribe obligation
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja now says he holds Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in great regard as the second in command but he urged him to agree to disagree on various city matters.
Speaking while appearing for an interview on Inooro TV, Sakaja revealed that in his time in the office, he has consulted both ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto and, therefore, he will not rule the cosmopolitan city under tribe obligation.
"There is something called Nairobi reality, which is about its cosmopolitan nature and the political party diversity therein," he said.
He said the aforementioned leaders were instrumental when he chose his Cabinet where he awarded the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party three executive slots.
Sakaja said, therefore, he consults all around in pursuit of development and changes in Nairobi.
"I respect Gachagua as holding a senior position in our party...let me not speak too much about this issue...but there are areas we are not agreeing," Sakaja said.
Adding; "There are things that we are supposed to do away from public glare...and I am concerned that in this era, we are introducing tribal dimensions."
This follows DP Gachagua's interview on the same TV where he asked both matatu and bar owners to stay put and defy Sakaja's directive until the matter is negotiated afresh.
Gachagua said the decision to remove the public service vehicles from the CBD was rushed before an alternative was provided and affected a majority of MT Kenya people.
“Those who come to town are not complaining of congestion because that is where they get their daily bread.
"When those planning to evict matatus from the CBD bring trains, we shall accept that they remove Matatus but for now there are no trains or buses,” Gachagua said during an interview on a local television station.
The DP has been at loggerheads with Governor Sakaja over the decision to remove matatus from the town centre.
“I do not have any problems with anyone, but anyone who feels that there should be a change or shift in status quo, they should first consider how it will change the lives of Kenyans and have a dialogue about it before making any decisions,” he said.
Gachagua on nightclubs
On the closure of nightclubs in residential areas, the DP said the governor should have given time to the businessmen to look for an alternative to controlling noise pollution.
“You are the same people who have issued these businessmen and women with licenses to operate clubs within the residential areas.
"You cannot wake up one day and decide to close their business. These people have invested their money there,” he said.
Governor Sakaja on Sunday, January 8 told his critics to keep off and let him manage the affairs of the county.
