The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli has defended Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja from attacks by a section of leaders.
Sakaja has been under attack from leaders including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his plans to relocate matatus from the CBD.
Atwoli who spoke at a burial in Khwisero in Kakamega said the move to move matatus from the CBD will ensure Nairobi attains international standards like Abuja, Cairo, Johannesburg and Kigali.
“Yule Governor wa Nairobi ni kijana wetu. Mama yake anatoka hapa Ikolomani..huyo anaitwa sakaja…. Huyo mtoto ana wenyewe na wenyewe ni wazee kama sisi. Sasa ukimshika ujue ana watu wake pia na we cannot run away from that…” Atwoli said.
This is translated loosely to 'Nairobi governor is our son, his mother is from Ikolomani here..he has his own people and if you touch know he has his own people.'
Atwoli called on those who have a problem with him to move closer and advise him rather than issue threats.
"Anafanya kazi kwa karibu na William Samoei Ruto..ukiwa na mawaidha unataka kumpa songa karibu umpe mawaidha usimtishe kwa ajili ni kijana mdogo nan chi hii tutawachia vijana,” he added.
This comes after Gachagua warned Sakaja against implementing his plans to eject matatus from the CBD saying it would hurt businesses.
"I shall sit down with Sakaja because we are the ones who elected him. We must first discuss on anything which can disrupt business in Nairobi. We do not need a lot of speed, go slow," the DP said.
Governor Sakaja had initiated plans to relocate long-distance matatus from the CBD to the newly built Green Park bus terminus on Haile Selassie Avenue.
Long-distance matatu operators, however, opposed the move and went to upon which the court temporarily stopped the relocation.
Gachagua said that he will have a conversation with Sakaja on the way forward.
Last week, MPs from Western Kenya counties called on Ruto to intervene and end the apparent rift between Gachagua and Sakaja.
They faulted the DP and asked him to let Sakaja implement what he promises the people of Nairobi.
