Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has withdrawn as a witness for the National Assembly in Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua‘s impeachment hearing in Senate.
Sakaja was listed as one of the National Assembly witnesses in the Gachagua impeachment trial, as announced by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
The Kenya Times has learned that Sakaja is in Mexico City attending the Bloomberg CityLab 2024 summit, where he features as one of the keynote speakers.
He joins discussions on urban governance, highlighting the role of youth in shaping city policies.
“Later today, Bloomberg CityLab reporter Fola Akinnibi will join Governor Sakaja Arthur Johnson of Nairobi, Kenya, to talk about what cities can learn from putting young people at the heart of decision-making,” the event programme read.
Affidavit of Governor Johnson Sakaja
In his affidavit, Sakaja had accused Gachagua of opposing the relocation of traders from Nairobi’s Wakulima Market to Kangundo Road Market.
Sakaja stated that this was a decision of the county government and not that of the office of the DP, hence Gachagua violated the principle of separation of powers.
The Nairobi Governor said in his affidavit that on or around September 20, Gachagua ‘’in reckless disregard of the high calling and dignified status of the office of the DP, unlawfully interfered with the running of the Nairobi City County Government by holding a rally and inciting citizens against lawful directives in the planning and management of the markets”.
He went on to argue that the DP has previously used ethnic incitement to interfere with the county government’s management of traffic in Nairobi especially the relocation of matatu terminals through ethnic incitement.
“Moreover, His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua has interfered with the proper discharge of county governments’ constitutional functions regarding alcohol control and regulation,” Sakaja’s affidavit reads in part.
“I believe that Gachagua’s incitement and demeaning public statements and conduct are impeachable offences. They undermine devolution, the functional and institutional integrity of the county government and unjustifiably denigrate and ridicule the leadership of county governments.”
Also Read: Senators Rallying Behind Gachagua Amid Ongoing Impeachments
Sakaja and other key witnesses in the impeachment motion against Gachagua was expected to take to the stand to provide finer details to justify the grounds upon which Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse has premised his impeachment motion against the DP.
Other Witnesses Against DP Gachagua
Other key witnesses in the impeachment motion against Gachagua include Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau and former acting Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA Andrew Mulwa.
In his sworn affidavit, Mulwa argues that the Deputy President allegedly influenced the award of the Ksh3.7 billion malaria nets tender. He claims that the DP called him around July 11, 2023, and instructed him to hand over the original bid bond submitted by a company for the tender to his agent.
“As a junior official, there was nothing I could do against a deputy president,’’ Mulwa says in his sworn affidavit.
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