The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General, Francis Atwoli, has urged Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to restore the political and development standing of Nairobi County after he survived impeachment.
In a statement on his official X account on Wednesday, September 4, Atwoli stated that the governor should accommodate political advice from his elders if he truly wishes to be remembered as a game-changer in Nairobi County’s leadership.
The COTU head further lauded President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's move to save the governor from impeachment, asserting that this was the first step in restoring standards in Nairobi County.
"Nairobi is choked by congestion, both in traffic and in planning. It's crying for leadership and stability. Nairobi deserves leadership that prioritises its people, restores dignity to its spaces, and reclaims the city from the chaos. Sakaja must accept guidance from elders," Atwoli said.
The COTU Secretary-General, who has long considered Sakaja his son, stated that the county chief should also foster a good working relationship with Nairobi Members of the County Assembly to strengthen his political career.
"Our call for a cleaner, safer capital is not just justified, it’s long overdue. The spat between Sakaja and his MCAs, if allowed to continue unchecked, will spiral into a political contest and be hijacked by those opposed to stability," Atwoli said.
"We raised Sakaja in style. It is his duty to lead Nairobi in style and make it stylish by listening to advice and working in harmony with his team. We are ready to help him whenever he needs us," he added.
Atwoli's statement comes two days after Raila held a closed-door meeting with the governor and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)-allied MCAs at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) on Tuesday, September 2, where he succeeded in convincing the MCAs to drop the impeachment plan.
Other reports further suggested that a similar meeting was held by senior United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leadership with its MCAs to reach a similar agreement.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Nairobi County ODM Chairperson George Aladwa confirmed that the meeting was aimed at creating space for dialogue and reconciliation between the governor and the MCAs.
During the meeting, according to the Makadara lawmaker, Sakaja acknowledged all the accusations and apologised to them. The MCAs gave the governor a 60-day ultimatum to address the issues.
"We have deliberated for nearly four hours, and the MCAs have raised all their concerns. Nairobi leadership, as well as the party, has also resolved to drop the impending impeachment to allow us to correct the wrong," Aladwa said.
"We have agreed that the governor should be allowed to serve the people of Nairobi. We have also asked him to consider all that was contested about him or us so that we can move forward," he added.
