The Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has hit back at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua telling him to respect his boss, president William Ruto and stop tribal politics even as the race for the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party grassroots elections in Nairobi hots up.
The openly agitated governor spoke at Bomas of Kenya during his meeting with UDA Nairobi delegates directly told Gachagua to keep off from saying that he helped him clinch the gubernatorial seat maintaining that he was elected by city dwellers and that the Nairobi governor’s was not a reserve for one community.
“I have been through a lot and one thing for sure is that I am person who is never intimidated. Today I want to make it clear that nobody should move around boasting that they helped be the governor, I was elected by Nairobians who believed in my manifesto.” Sakaja stated.
“You can’t bully people for two years and then start crying when you are mentioned in one week.” He added.
There have been claims of friction between the DP and the city governor over his recent bid for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party chairmanship in Nairobi.
Previously Sakaja dismissed claims that he was asked to drop his bid by some of the ruling party’s officials.
While appearing before a local TV interview last month, Sakaja maintained that he is still in the race, and he shall not succumb to pressure.
“I’m not a leader who succumbs to pressure. If there was pressure, I would not have been governor of Nairobi and I don’t know where they assume it is coming from… I have heard the rumours.” He said previously.
The city administrator announced his bid for UDA Chairmanship bid during a meeting with UDA Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
The governor has recently faced criticism from leaders aligned with Gachagua regarding his performance as the county boss.
Sakaja and Gachagua have previously been engaged in open and veiled political attacks even as the governor seeks to affirm his political control in Nairobi but Gachagua and Nairobi Members of Parliament drawn from Mount Kenya region seek to assert their control.
For the UDA Nairobi county chairmanship, Sakaja is battling it out with Embakasi North MP Mwangi Gakuya who is also a close ally of Gachagua.
