Sifuna walks out as Senator Lemaletian praises Sakaja over good work in Nairobi

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna walks out of a Senate committee meeting. /SCREENGRAB

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna walked out of a Senate committee meeting on Thursday as fellow legislator Hezena Lemaletian delivered positive remarks on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during the committee hearing.

Sifuna’s departure came amid a heated debate over a far-reaching cooperation agreement between the Nairobi County Government and the national government, a pact he strongly opposes.

He has previously criticised the arrangement, describing it as a “ruse” that undermines devolution and effectively cedes core county responsibilities to national authorities.

Sifuna’s criticism is linked to broader political debate over unresolved Nairobi bills and liabilities associated with the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

As tensions escalated in the Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, Sifuna said the governor had outsourced aspects of his constitutional role by embracing the national cooperation deal instead of strengthening county-led development.

Shortly thereafter, he exited the proceedings, declining to remain for further testimony.

Samburu nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian.

Following Sifuna’s exit, Senator Lemaletian took the floor and offered a different perspective. In her submission, she lauded Governor Sakaja’s focus on enhancing essential services, including waste management, water supply, electricity, housing, county roads, and public health, saying these areas have shown progress under his leadership.

Samburu nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian said:

“I’m going to talk to you today about waste management and how it is being implemented,” she said, adding that Nairobi’s persistent sanitation challenges, poorly maintained roads, intermittent water supply, and unreliable electricity had been major concerns before recent improvements began to take shape.

She drew comparisons with her home county of Samburu, saying residents in the capital should “feel the difference” in service delivery and infrastructure quality as the city develops.

“I cannot be walking on a rough road in Samburu and still walk on a rough road in Nairobi. I need to feel the difference. I have been promising my people that when I’m governor someday, I would make Samburu be like Nairobi,” she said.

The senator further expressed her support for Sakaja’s leadership and urged him to ensure public participation in decision-making processes.

“I personally support that kind of leadership. I just need you to ensure that there is proper public participation and that whatever the citizens of Nairobi and Kenyans at large who benefit from their capital city say is taken into serious consideration,” she said.

She concluded by backing Sakaja’s leadership and expressing hope that he would continue implementing his development agenda.

“I support making Nairobi work, and I hope you get re-elected as the county governor of Nairobi,” she said.