I apologise, Sakaja tells MCAs as Ruto, Raila come to his rescue

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has one month to mend fences with MCAs or once again face their wrath.

This was the resolution of high-stakes, parallel meetings led by President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga that rescued the county boss from impeachment.

Restless MCAs, who had collected more than 80 signatures and drafted a motion to remove Sakaja, were persuaded by the two leaders to drop their push.

Kenya Kwanza MCAs attended a meeting at State House chaired by President Ruto, while Azimio ward reps gathered at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) in Upper Hill under Raila and ODM Nairobi chairman George Aladwa.

Also present at the JOOF session were Nairobi assembly speaker Ken Ngondi and veteran politician Fred Gumo.

“They said the governor is not accessible. He has not released bursary funds and funds for development in the wards are also not being released,” Aladwa told the Star after the four-hour meeting.

According to insiders, the tense meeting, also attended by Sakaja, saw agitated ward reps vent their frustrations and demand to be allowed to “deal” with the governor.

“We told Baba [Raila] he cannot be the saviour of this governor all the time. We wanted to show him we also have powers. We cannot be passing a budget, yet wards and people have nothing to show for it,” one MCA disclosed.

After hours of heated deliberations, Sakaja apologised to the MCAs. Raila then directed him to reconcile with the ward reps within a month to restore a working relationship.

“Baba was very categorical that he must resolve his issues with the MCAs within a month,” Aladwa said.

He said ODM’s decision to spare the governor was driven by the need to deliver development in Nairobi, with barely two years to the next general election.

“As ODM, we don’t want distractions. Our people want development. The meeting resolved that they must sort out their issues for the benefit of Nairobians,” Aladwa added.

This was the third meeting Raila had held in four days in a bid to rescue the first-term governor.

On Monday evening, he met assembly leaders at JOOF offices, hours after MCAs announced they had collected more than 80 signatures to impeach Sakaja.

That nearly five-hour session brought together speaker Ng’ondi, majority leader Peter Imwatok, whip Moses Ogeto, deputy whip Stazo Omungala, deputy majority leader John Ndile and budget committee chairperson Wilfred Odalo.

From the minority side, leader Anthony Kiragu, deputy Chege Mwaura, whip Mark Mugambi and deputy whip Joyce Kamau attended.

The meeting resolved to convene separate caucuses of both Azimio and UDA before a joint session to iron out grievances. Among the key issues were stalled projects, poor roads, allocation of Ward Fund and bursaries, and members’ welfare.

Raila’s Azimio coalition commands a majority in the county assembly.

At State House, President Ruto persuaded Kenya Kwanza MCAs to shelve the impeachment and give Sakaja a chance to implement development programmes.

Drawing from his own political battles, the President reminded them that leadership requires resilience.

“I have been the most accused person, but I never allowed that to derail my work. I urge you to put aside differences and drop this motion,” Ruto told the MCAs.

Despite the interventions, some MCAs doubted whether Raila’s and Ruto’s rescue missions would yield results.

Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai downplayed the JOOF meeting, saying Sakaja habitually seeks refuge in Raila when under siege.

“You know, whenever there is a tiff between MCAs and the governor, he runs to Raila and gets saved. This time it will not be easy for him because the issues are between him and the MCAs, not Raila,” Alai said.

Roysambu MCA Sospeter Mumbi added, “Raila has always spoken for himself. If he feels he has something to say, he will. For now, people should not speak on his behalf.”

Nairobi West MCA Rex Omolleh warned that unless Sakaja addresses the grievances raised, the political truce may not hold.