Sakaja take on DP Gachagua over national dialogue impasse
Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has opened a new warpath with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the latter’s stand opposing the dialogue between Azimio One Kenya Coalition and the president William Ruto’s led Kenya Kwanza administration.
In a veiled attack to the DP and Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro who have termed the talks as pointless, Sakaja has warned Kenya Kwanza leaders against undermining the negotiations spearheaded by the National Dialogue Committee.
Today, while speaking in Eldoret at the celebrations to mark 120 years of the Reformed Church of East Africa, Sakaja urged the Kenya Kwanza leaders to stop undermining the ongoing bi-partisan talks between the opposition and the government.
“I want to ask our UDA and Kenya Kwanza leaders to please allow the talks to go on instead of appearing to condition on what to do or what to allow.” Sakaja said.
He said the president was an intelligent person who knows what he was doing and it was not possible for him to mislead the country.
“President Ruto is an intelligent person and he knows what he’s doing. He is the only one in charge and knows what this country needs.” Sakaja added.
Both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza teams lashed out at Gachagua for disparaging the ongoing negotiations by the National Dialogue Committee.
On his part, Wiper Democratic Movement Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka called on Kenyans to ignore unfortunate remarks made by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the ongoing National Dialogue Committee talks.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbaririe who was holding brief for National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa on behalf of Kenya Kwanza termed the utterances as unfortunate.
“As the Kenya Kwanza team, I want to assure you that we are fully committed to this talks. We are here for a purpose and we have clear instructions on what to do.” Mbarire said.
Gachagua and a section of Central Kenya leaders led by Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyor have since termed the ongoing talks as pointless.
Last week, while attending burial ceremony of the late Anne Musau, mother Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka (Kawaya), in Machakos, Gachagua said the talks were only meant to hoodwink Kenyans, since Azimio leader Raila Odinga has apparently met with president William Ruto and made his agenda clear on what he wants.
Gachagua dismissed the ongoing bi-partisan talks between the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions, stating that nothing will come out of the dialogue that was expected to unlock the standoff between the government and the opposition.
“The talks you are waiting for to happen under the leadership of Kalonzo will bear no fruit. Raila did a handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 and struck a deal without involving Kalonzo that saw many development projects channeled to Nyanza. Did Kalonzo bring any development in Ukambani as a result of that handshake? So why do you still follow him after doing that for the community?” Gachagua posed.
Tiff between DP Gachagua and Sakaja is not new.
In January this year, Sakaja told off the DP and vowed he will not back down on his Reform Agenda despite criticism from Gachagua on his planned removal of matatu operators from the City’s Central Business District (CBD).
In telling off the Deputy President, Sakaja said he has the full backing of the Head of State on his transformational push to restore the City’s lost glory.
The governor made the remarks barely week after a section of leaders from the Mount Kenya region came out in defence of Gachagua over his stance against reforms being taken by the governor.
Sakaja said he won’t relent as he is a man on a mission.
