Sakaja Forced to Clarify Mombasa Retreat With MCAs After Backlash

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaj addressing MCAs-elect at a hotel in Mombasa on Saturday, September 3, 2022..jpg
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja addressing MCAs-elect at a hotel in Mombasa on Saturday, September 3, 2022.
Johnson Sakaja

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was forced to clarify on the retreat with elected Members of County Assembly (MCAs) in Mombasa  following uproar from members of the public.

Sakaja dismissed claims that the trip which saw over 30 MCAs join the county and his Deputy James Muchiri in the coastal city, was financed by taxpayers' money.

Also in attendance was the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director-General Lt Gen Mohamed Badi.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaj addressing MCAs-elect at a hotel in Mombasa on Saturday, September 3, 2022. (1).jpg
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a meeting with Nairobi county MCAs-elect in Mombasa on Saturday, September 3, 2022.
Johnson Sakaja

"No public resources were used," he stated, responding to enquiries by the members of the public.

However, the brief response did not get him off the hook as yet since Kenyans beckoned him to give a more elaborate explanation on how the expenses were met.

"So they (MCAs-elect) paid for their travel or is it an anonymous sponsor who will want favours in future?" Victor Machuka questioned.

On September 3, Sakaja shared images of the meeting with the ward representatives, explaining the purpose of the meeting. He subsequently praised Nairobi residents for electing good leaders.

"The MCAs have shared your development priorities per ward as General Badi addressed status of ongoing and pending projects in all the wards," he explained.

However, while a section of the public lauded the Governor, for bringing together MCAs, others questioned why the meeting had to take place outside the capital city.

"Why Mombasa yet Nairobi has a lot of facilities that can hold such meeting boss," Godfrey Sirimba asked. "Don't waste public resources by holding meetings in Mombasa to get allowances," Ndegwa reckoned.

The MCAs-elect will be worn in during the first county assembly sitting which, as per the constitution, should be convened by the county governor through a gazette notice.

Nairobi county has 85 ward representatives. The party with the majority will get the lion's share of the nomination slots with UDA  having 35 MCAs against ODM's 36.

Jubilee party, an affiliate party of Azimio has 6 MCAs while Wiper has 4 and Moses Kuria's Chama cha Kazi has one member.

Azimio and Kenya Kwanza are marshalling their troops as they jostle for the control of City Hall. Already, Jubilee-allied politicians are calling on their ODM counterparts to rally behind its candidate in the speaker's race.

NMS Director General Mohamed Badi Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaj addressing MCAs-elect at a hotel in Mombasa on Saturday, September 3, 2022
NMS Director General Mohamed Badi Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja addressing MCAs-elect at a hotel in Mombasa on Saturday, September 3, 2022.
Johnson Sakaja