Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja on Sunday, November 21, narrated how his integrity was put to test when he was the chairman of The National Alliance (TNA).
Speaking at the Nairobi Chapel, Sakaja, who became the party's chairman at just 27 years of age, revealed that he had a hard time warding off old guards who were already used to buying their way into party favours.
He stated that at one point, a politician from Nyeri offered him a Ksh35 million bribe in exchange for a party nomination certificate.
"I remember a gentleman from Nyeri offering me Ksh35 million to get a certificate. A nomination certificate. Either I was naive, or I did not know the value," he narrated.
Sakaja turned down the bribe and set new rules for any political aspirants in the party that had dominance in the Mount Kenya region. Henceforth, he decided that he would not be meeting any of them behind closed doors.
"When I was the TNA Chairman, I told aspirants that if you want to vie, and you want to meet me, come with your opponents," he added.
His decree was met with ridicule from some of the veteran politicians, who chided him for maintaining his stand. One of them told him that he was silly for denying himself and his young family a life-changing opportunity.
Looking back, the senator does not regret the bold step, explaining that it made him who he is today. He added that he would always be known as the guy who took the money and fizzled out.
Sakaja further divulged that he also received constant criticism and doubt from politicians as well as the media because of his age. The senator claimed that most media outlets refused to interview him in 2013.
"Will Sakaja's inexperience cost Uhuru the presidency?" He quoted one newspaper.
Nonetheless, President Uhuru Kenyatta won the election that year. He felt that his performance as a party chairman paved the way for other youths to be appointed in top party positions.
