Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced his intention to be the first-ever two-term governor of Nairobi, with the 2027 elections barely 18 months away. Sakaja, who was elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket in 2022, is under pressure, forcing him to seek political reinforcement from President William Ruto through a cooperation deal.
Appearing in a media interview on Sunday, March 8, Sakaja, a former Senator, claimed that although Nairobi has never had a consecutively elected governor, he was ready to be the first.
He also stated that he would run for governor under the broad-based government arrangement with President William Ruto.
“I am running for governor. I am in the broad-based arrangement. The party that shall be fielding for Nairobi is what I will run on. This will be the first time Nairobi will have a back-to-back governor, Inshallah,” Sakaja told Jeff Koinange on Citizen TV.
Despite his declaration, Sakaja acknowledged that he understands that public emotions are high due to the ongoing situations in the county.
“I know emotions are high right now, and I feel it. As you said, “I am the one in the storm,” Sakaja commented.
Sakaja tenure
Sakaja noted that despite public criticism, his leadership had transformed Nairobi.
Mentioning a few of the people that benefit from his leadership, he stated that the lady who washes clothes to feed her kids who await a job at the Kasuku center, the masons, and the kids are among the people who benefit from Sakaja’s social security.
Also Read: Sakaja Exposes Powerful People Within Ruto Govt Who Want to Take Over Nairobi County
Additionally, the governor stated that during his term as the governor, he has been able to oversee the construction of roads in the informal settlements.
He also mentioned that most people in Nairobi now have access to a clean water supply in Ruai, Utawala, Mihangu, and Karen.
He mentioned that he had friends in Karen whose pipes were bursting because they did not have a water supply from the county, but are now getting it for the first time.
City Politics
Brian Wasala, a member of the public, claimed that the governor needed to demonstrate how he understood the people of Nairobi if he had been unable to work, his home had never flooded, or raging waters had washed a family member away.
Some Kenyans, like Thomas Ngumi, raised concerns about why the governor was not questioned to explain the utilization of the Ksh 24 billion project, which was provided in 2024 by the African Development Bank and the World Bank.
Also Read: Sakaja Responds to Ruto Taking Over Nairobi Key Functions
Explaining this, he claimed that, under the division of revenue in the vertical division, as under Article 12 of the Kenyan constitution, the county takes what is given to it and does not intervene in the allocation of the national government and its budget.
He also added that he has found a solution regarding the city being submerged in water during the heavy downpour.
According to the governor, they have a framework and have secured an 80 billion-cooperation deal that will resource the implementation in Nairobi County.
Sakaja has faced impeachment threats, with the late Raila Odinga saving him in 2025 before his demise.
On Sunday, March 8, he reaffirmed that despite the limitation in the county, he will not resign.
He stated that he is still working to complete all the pending projects in the capital city.
The Nairobi gubernatorial race has attracted several aspirants so far, including former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera, Embakasi East lawmaker Babu Owino, and his Embakasi North counterpart James Gakuya.
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