Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has voiced his grievances against Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, claiming that Sakaja consistently ignores his calls, highlighting a strained relationship between the two leaders who are elected to serve the same constituents. During an interview on the Mic Cheque podcast, Sifuna clarified that he and Sakaja have never been friends, attributing this to the tense dynamic between them.
Sifuna accused Sakaja of relying heavily on public relations tactics to create an illusion of productivity, suggesting that Sakaja often fails to deliver tangible results.
Expressing frustration, Sifuna stated, “The issue I have with him is his reliance on PR stunts. He tends to make numerous empty promises. We don’t necessarily need to be friends, but we should maintain a professional and cordial relationship. However, despite being his Senator, he consistently ignores my calls.”
The senator further lamented that Sakaja frequently fails to follow through on agreed-upon development initiatives.
“As a Senator, it is not ideal for me to address the Governor through the media or parliamentary sessions. Unfortunately, he remains inaccessible. Moreover, when summoned to appear before house committees, he often declines,” Sifuna remarked.
Sifuna cited an instance where Sakaja was expected to testify before the Energy Committee regarding the Embakasi gas explosion but failed to appear. Instead, Sakaja informed the committee of his absence, citing attendance at the funeral of Embakasi Central MP Mejja Donk’s father.
“The Minister of Energy, as well as NEMA officials, honored the summons, but the Governor opted not to attend. Despite attending the same burial event, I managed to attend the committee hearing before joining the burial ceremony. This demonstrates the Governor’s disregard for both the Senate and its committees,” Sifuna accused Sakaja.
Referring to Sakaja’s recent Ksh.500,000 fine for missing committee summons, Sifuna asserted that such penalties are insufficient deterrents for leaders skipping hearings. As a result, the Senate is considering increasing fines to Ksh.2 million and granting powers of arrest for non-compliant individuals, he revealed.
