Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna scoffed Governor Johnson Sakaja for disrespecting Senate’s committees and appearing only when he needs money
Sakaja defended himself that he failed to appear before the Senate’s committees when he was on a his trip at abroad
However Senators were unmoved as they silenced him for he appeared during the Budget Policy Statement when Council of Governors sought Ksh 450 Billion share from national cake
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Tuesday faced a challenging session after appearing before the Kiambu Senator Karangu wa Thangw’a Senate that called him to discuss the progress of the Urban City Renewal Plan being carried out by the Nairobi County Government.
Apart from facing a Ksh.500,000 penalty for ignoring the committee’s summons in the past, Sakaja endured a reprimand from Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. Sifuna stopped just short of alleging that Sakaja was showing disrespect to the residents of Nairobi County.
The sequence of events started when Sakaja asserted that he couldn’t comply with the earlier summons because he had traveled abroad.
Sifuna took the opportunity to publicly confront Sakaja during the Senate’s Roads, Transportation, and Housing Committee meeting.
He argued that the Governor’s explanation of traveling abroad was inadequate and insisted that an apology was owed to the residents affected by the situation.
“I don’t think it is fair for you Governor to just tell the people of Nairobi that you had travelled. All these people I can assure you that Sakaja knows all these leaders individually and they are the ones who are disappointed,” said Sifuna referring to leaders of estates set to be demolished in the regeneration plan.
The leaders in question were representing residents who are poised to be impacted by the plan, and they are expressing opposition to the proposed implementation approach as they appear before the committee.
“For me really I don’t mind because as you know I don’t live in any of those estates. We bring these matters before the Senate not on our behalf but on behalf of these people and they are the people who have been disappointed and are the people you owe an apology,” Sifuna added
The Senator from Nairobi proceeded to allege that the Governor failed to prioritize pressing and relevant matters. He asserted that this negligence was a key factor leading to a proposal in the Senate suggesting harsh penalties for Governors similar to Sakaja.
“You say you showed up in the Senate last week but that was for a selfish reason because Governors in this country only find use for the Senate when they are looking for more resources for counties. You were there, and I watched it, to present your case of Ksh.450 billion that the Council of Governors is pushing. That is the only time you prioritize parliamentary business,” Sifuna charged