On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua publicly attacked Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for allegedly persecuting business people from Mt Kenya.
Gachagua said the move by Sakaja to kick out matatus from operating in the Central Business District was hurting the Kikuyu community most since they were the major stakeholders in the transport sector.
As such, the DP said it was wrong for the Nairobi governor to make such decisions without consulting the Kikuyu communities and that he was the one who rallied the Kikuyu community to vote for Sakaja in the August 9, General Election.
“And I have told the governor of Nairobi that I will sit down and talk to him because we are the ones who elected him. I was the one who sat down the people in Nairobi and told them to vote for him. Whatever things he decides, which can damage business in Nairobi, let’s first talk and agree. We don’t want too much speed,” Gachagua said.
His comments have since elicited sharp reactions from politicians especially county bosses who now say that the second in command is ‘overstepping his powers.’
Led by Siaya Governor James Orengo and his Kakamega counterpart Fernandes Barasa, the governors told Gachagua to respect the constitution and let the governors do their work.
“Sakaja can only talk to Ruto, not his assistant. The constitution establishes two levels of government which are distinct and states that we conduct affairs with respect and Mutual Corporation,” Siaya Governor James Orengo said.
On his part, Kakamega Governor asked Gachagua to leave Sakaja alone adding that he was given the mandate by Nairobians to govern the affairs of Nairobi County.
“Deputy President (Rigathi Gachagua) must respect the constitution. Governor Sakaja is the one who was given the mandate by Nairobians to govern the affairs of Nairobi County. Let him work without interference,” Barasa said.