Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has urged Kenyans to
stop blaming President William Ruto or ODM leader Raila Odinga for Governor Johnson
Sakaja’s survival from a planned impeachment.
Orwoba said the responsibility lay with Nairobi Members of County
Assembly (MCAs) who, she said, put party loyalty ahead of accountability.
“Stop blaming Raila or Ruto for saving Sakaja. Those two
didn’t have to vote or sign impeachment motions. Blame party loyalty,” she
said.
“Party loyalty is the reason Sakaja is not facing an
impeachment motion in the County Assembly, and that is the simple fact.”
She faulted city leaders for what she termed as disregarding constitutional
values and the needs of Nairobi residents by shielding Sakaja.
“Nairobians, as you continue to suffer water shortage, bad
drainage, sewer bursts, ridiculous parking fees, dysfunctional street lights,
inflated business levies, skyrocketing cost of business operations and rogue
city council workers, remember that party loyalty kept Sakaja in office,” she
said.
Orwoba warned that political loyalty was eroding integrity,
morality and humanity in governance.’
Her remarks come after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was
handed a lifeline, with one month to mend fences with MCAs or once again face
their wrath.
This was the resolution of high-stakes meetings led by ODM
leader Raila Odinga that rescued the county boss from impeachment.
Restless MCAs, who had collected more than 80 signatures and
drafted a motion to remove Sakaja, were persuaded to drop their push.
According to insiders, the tense meeting, also attended by
Sakaja, saw agitated ward reps vent their frustrations and demand to be allowed
to “deal” with the governor.
“We told Baba [Raila] he cannot be the saviour of this
governor all the time. We wanted to show him we also have powers. We cannot be
passing a budget, yet wards and people have nothing to show for it,” one MCA
disclosed.
After hours of heated deliberations, Sakaja apologised to
the MCAs.
Raila then directed him to reconcile with the ward reps
within a month to restore a working relationship.
“Baba was very categorical that he must resolve his issues
with the MCAs within a month,” Aladwa said.
He said ODM’s decision to spare the governor was driven by
the need to deliver development in Nairobi, with barely two years to the next
general election.
“As ODM, we don’t want distractions. Our people want
development. The meeting resolved that they must sort out their issues for the
benefit of Nairobians,” Aladwa added.
This was the third meeting Raila had held in four days in a
bid to rescue the first-term governor.
On Monday evening, he met assembly leaders at JOOF offices,
hours after MCAs announced they had collected more than 80 signatures to
impeach Sakaja.
That nearly five-hour session brought together speaker Ng’ondi,
majority leader Peter Imwatok, whip Moses Ogeto, deputy whip Stazo Omungala,
deputy majority leader John Ndile and budget committee chairperson Wilfred
Odalo.
From the minority side, leader Anthony Kiragu, deputy Chege
Mwaura, whip Mark Mugambi and deputy whip Joyce Kamau attended.
Kenya Kwanza MCAs are also set to have a meeting at State
House chaired by President William Ruto.
