Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has slammed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for his recent remarks about his alleged spat with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
In a statement on Monday, Sifuna said that governors are not obligated to report to Gachagua and accused him of issuing illegal decrees and interfering in the affairs of county governments.
“DP Gachagua has in the past few weeks had a tiff with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over management of city affairs. But he has now gone a step further and reportedly declared that he can direct any governor on what to do. I now take it upon myself to educate the DP,” he said.
In the fierce attack, Sifuna termed Gachagua a “national joke” and a “village clown.”
Sifuna also slammed Gachagua for his alleged attempts to divide Nairobi into tribal boroughs and for trying to elevate some tribes over others.
“We reject Gachagua’s invitation to elevate some tribes to superior positions over others or his ill-informed agenda of attempting to divide Nairobi into tribal boroughs,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna said that he is mandated to protect the interest of the county in his capacity as Nairobi Senator.
The Senator said that Nairobi residents have stated unequivocally that they want change in the city.
“Changing the city cannot happen by making it a large kiosk paradise or a big matatu terminus under the guise of “Kazi ni Kazi,” he said.
The Senator went on to argue that Gachagua has grossly overestimated his influence in Nairobi politics and should focus on delivering on the promises made by himself and the President.
“It’s obvious Gachagua is still hangover from his glory days as an all-powerful DO confiscating chicken from helpless farmers,” he said.
“It’s a good time to remind him that those days are long gone. Let him keep off the running of county governments and concentrate on delivering the many promises he and the President made to Kenyans, strictly in line with the powers he has under the Constitution,” he added.
Sifuna further advised Sakaja to proceed to execute his agenda in the way he sees fit because he will account to Nairobi residents and not Gachagua.
Gachagua was speaking in Nyeri County when he urged the governor not to rush into decisions that will harm Mt. Kenya residents, claiming that they helped him win the position of county boss.
The DP urged matatu drivers and other business owners to stay put and carry on with their operations while being assured of government protection against Nairobi Governor Sakaja’s order to remove public transportation vehicles from the CBD in an effort to relieve city congestion.
