Embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has for a long time publicly professed his support for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Since the build-up to the 2013 General Election, and his election as the first Senator for Nairobi County, the governor, has in the course of time fiercely supported the Head of State while publicly alluding to a blossoming friendship between the two.
Sonko has on several occasions gone above and beyond for the Head of State in the name of loyalty and friendship. At a time when the Nairobi Governor is dealing with a seemingly deteriorating relationship with Kenyatta, we look at how Sonko has been investing in being on the President's good side.
Campaigning for Uhuru
Sonko was at the forefront of President Kenyatta's corner in both the 2013 and 2017 general elections. He led youth in the city, and was part of the nationwide tours, rallying for his election to the country's top seat.
Then dubbed a new face for Nairobi, Sonko, Rachel Shebesh, and Ferdinand Waititu rallied together to ensure Nairobi was locked and secured for Kenyatta in his first bid for the top seat.
Hague demos
On Tuesday, October 8, 2014, Sonko led a demonstration in The Hague to protest what was termed as the harassment of Uhuru Kenyatta by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Youth in the company of the then-Nairobi Senator lay on the ground outside the ICC in a dramatic, unprecedented show of solidarity.
Sonko has on several occasions defended his competitors, chiefly among them ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Fending off Raila
On November 27, 2017, Sonko was accused of hiring goons to trash Jacaranda grounds with raw sewage. The venue was set to play host to a National Super Alliance (NASA) rally led by Odinga.
This was in the wake of political turmoil in the country, when NASA rejected the October 26, 2017, general election polls and vowed to swear in Odinga as president.
BBI Bandwagon
On March 8, 2019, President Kenyatta and Raila Odinga shook hands, bringing to an end a political stalemate that was characterised by boycotts and street demos. And in the spirit of a new dawn for the country, and campaign for national inclusivity, the two leaders set course for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Though the initiative received opposition from various quarters of the ruling Jubilee Party, Sonko threw his full weight behind the process. He on numerous occasions called upon leaders to embrace the head of state's vision and ideology, stating, it was in the best interest of the country.
Further, on February 26, a fleet of luxury cars bearing pro-BBI messages and images of Sonko was spotted on the streets of Nairobi, barely a day after the embattled governor had surrendered county functions to the national government with an unprecedented agreement signed at State House in the presence of President Kenyatta.
The fleet included several Mercedes Benz and Toyota vehicles among others plastered with the County Government of Nairobi emblem, national flag colours and images of Uhuru and Raila Odinga.
Another term for Uhuru
Wrapped in the BBI's alleged agenda of creating more positions at the helm of the country, Sonko while on Citizen TV's JKLive show on March 4, 2020, warned that the constant politicking had derailed the President's Big Four Agenda.
The embattled governor, then issued a warning to the Tangatanga and Kieleweke factions of Jubilee Party, stating that their wrangles would force another term for the head of state.
"If you continue politicking, my brother Uhuru is still young, we will give him another term to finish the job," Sonko had pronounced. This had proceeded several similar pronouncements, including one by COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, who had stated that Uhuru was too young to exit the political scene.
President Kenyatta had made a declaration that his government was determined to root out corruption, something Sonko has always professed to do, in the name of fighting cartels.
The governor has through the course of his term been involved in fierce altercations, he has often leaked conversations on alleged corruption conspiracies. Most notably, a conversation with former Kiambu governor Waitutu.
The first time governor has always flaunted his friendship with Uhuru, including a public phone call to the head of state. However, the relationship between the two seems to have hit a snag.
'Betrayal'
The friendship turned frosty probably about the time the governor was signing the deed to hand over some key functions of Nairobi to the national government on February 25, 2020.
He would weeks later challenge the decision following feuds with Nairobi Metropolitan Services Director-General Mohamed Badi.
Sonko has since alleged that he was blinded into signing a deal with Kenyatta.
"Why didn't Sonko decline to sign it if he had not read its contents yet he ran to State House to embrace the deal. This is what happens when you have semi-illiterate leaders in power.
"The Sonko of 2013 and 2017 who won people's hearts is not the same one in 2020. He is digging his own end as he promised Kenyans a lot yet he has not delivered. Many people are disappointed with him, and he no longer enjoys the support he used to enjoy," Martin Andati, a political analyst informed Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Dr. Jane Thuo, a University of Nairobi lecturer stated that Sonko has picked the wrong time to fight as people have gathered confidence in Kenyatta and Badi and are leaning more towards delivery, rather than fights.
"Sonko should have supported Badi as it would have given him a political mileage, rather than appear like he is undermining Kenyatta and bringing up 2022 politics as the country faced a crisis.
"However, he has time to change. One day in politics is worth more time. You never know what he can shift to. But this pandemic will break Sonko more than it can make him," Thuo, who is also a Development Communication Consultant, opined while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke on April 30.
Fight Back
As the country continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, Sonko and his team have continued to face resistance that he has come out to allege is orchestrated by the government.
First, he was barred from making food donations, and then sanitizer booths he had installed in the city were vandalised.
"I have a message to some of my friends at Harambee House who are drunk with power. Power comes, power goes, power is temporary and transient but the will of the people, and the will of God, is eternal," Sonko tweeted on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.
"In the '90s, Hon. Nicholas Biwott was a powerful man. Before his demise, he used to sit lonely at a corner at Serena Hotel. Few people bothered to say hi to him. Many others came before him & many others after him. But the Supreme Will of God has never faltered, neither floundered," he added.
He alleges that in his efforts to execute his mandate as Governor of Nairobi and provide for his people during the course of the virus have been undercut by the Office of the President. This has further signalled the rift between the two leaders.
"They have the army, the police & Gov't Agencies to intimidate me but I have God & His people as my only Shield & Saviour. May your will be done. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, & the love of God, & the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now & forevermore. Amen," Sonko tweeted on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
