Heed Gachagua's advice, Khalwale tells Sakaja

Kakamega Senator Dr Boni Khalwale has asked Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to respect and heed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's advice on how to deal with matatus in Nairobi.

Speaking in Likuyani constituency yesterday, Khalwale told Sakaja not to answer the DP back but take his call on planned relocation of PSVs from the Central Business District seriously as sustaining a war with the city's multi-billion businesspeople was as good as calling for his impeachment.

"We have been treated to a spat between the DP and governor in the media and there is no way Sakaja can disrespect Gachagua because he is his boss and if the governor in his wisdom decides to listen to the DP the better for him because he is being saved from a looming impeachment sponsored by businesspeople should he make good his plan to block matatus from accessing the CBD," said Khalwale.

"The view raised by the Deputy President are well thought out. When the governor starts driving out matatu people out of the CBD without a proper plan, then you must know that MCAs who were voted for by the affected businesspeople will impeach you. The DP's advice is simply saving Sakaja from impeachment," he added.

Khalwale told the governor that the Senate is ready to help him in streamlining the city if the county boss comes up with proper and elaborate measures and plans to make Nairobi great but not through roadside declarations.

"As senators we are there for you if you have a good plans to ensure that there is order in the city on how matatus and even entertainment joints operate. Just do it with order," he said.

"Make a visible and working plan that shows that if you remove matatus from town, here is an alternative plan for them to continue operating and generating income without struggling. Before doing it, take it to the County Assembly and Senate for approval. You will have no problem but the excitement you have that you're making a roadside declaration to show that you are working, forget. This is a government of the common people and we are starting from the bottom," added the senator.

He urged Sakaja to understand the working model of "hustler government", stating that he joined the team later and that bottom up is not fighting the owners of small businesses and instead supporting their ventures to grow.

Khalwale and former Mumias East MP Ben Washilai also took a swipe of Azimio leaders who have threatened to initiate a motion of impeachment against DP for what they termed as "undermining the work of our son Sakaja".

"The differences between the two are just a heathy show of internal democracy in Kenya Kwanza and Azimio should not come in. Azimio never supported the two in their quest to get to the offices they occupy and must not pretend to care," said Washiali.

ODM leaders led by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and his Siaya counterpart James Orengo early in the week defended Sakaja and told Gachagua to allow him to serve Nairobi residents.