Unexpected alliance as Sakaja, Gachagua meet

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during church service at Jesus Winner Ministry in Roysambu Constituency, Nairobi County on March 5, 2023. [DPCS]

What started last Sunday as an invitation by Governor Johnson Sakaja to Deputy President Gachagua to attend a church service in the city has led to revelations that the county boss needs some help.

It has now emerged that the church service was a curtain raiser for the next phase of relationship between the two following their differences witnessed last year.

Their points of friction included relocating of matatu stages to Green Park and management of hawkers in the city.

Gachagua has now revealed that Sakaja reached to him for support over the running of some county issues.

"I had a long conversation with Governor Sakaja on Sunday night and I told him the concerns with the leaders of Nairobi," the deputy president said in a video shared on X.

This is the first time, since the 2022 elections that Gachagua and Sakaja attended a church service at PCEA Gateway in Thome, Nairobi.

Gachagua went ahead, "That is positive and I want to thank him because he reached out as the governor."

"Since I am a truthful man, I told him the concerns with the leaders of Nairobi and his electorates are not feeling part and parcel of his administration and the beauty is that he also conceded and he acknowledges that there is a disconnect."

Governor Sakaja however told The Sunday Standard that the conversation he had with the deputy president was more about party structures in the city and not about City Hall politics.

"Our conversation was about our party leadership in the city, we also discussed upcoming party elections set for April," Sakaja said.

"There has been a feeling among the UDA party in the city among those who campaigned for us including coordinators that they have been left out, they also want positions in government."

The governor said that Gachagua's concerns extend to the unity of elected leaders from the party in the city.

"Our discussion dwelt on the unity but not City Hall, that is why from Friday (March 15), I will have a retreat for all elected MCA's in Naivasha," Sakaja said.

There have been internal wrangles at the City Hall over House leadership.

The differences started in October 2023, when a different faction held a meeting and resolved to replace both Waithaka MCA Anthony Kiragu as Minority Leader and Minority Whip Mark Mugambi.

In their place, Nairobi South MCA Waithera Chege was appointed as the Minority Leader and Githurai's Deonysias Mwangi as the deputy.

Others appointed by the party were Joyce Muthoni as the Minority Whip and Mwaura Samora, as the Deputy Minority Whip.