Sakaja, Gachagua strife

Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has declared interest in the UDA Nairobi chairperson position ahead of party elections slated for Friday.

His contender will be Embakasi North Member of Parliament (MP) James Gakuya who’s candidature is backed by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Former Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga is also drumming support for Mr Gakuya following a recent public spat with Mr Sakaja.

Embakasi North MP James Gakuya. PHOTO/COURTESY

Sakaja declared his intention to contest on Friday during a meeting with Members of County Assembly (MCAs).

“I want you to get this from the horse’s mouth, I’m vying for the Nairobi chairmanship position in UDA,” declared the first term governor.

This pronouncement was followed by a presser by Nairobi UDA MPs accusing him of incompetence and mismanagement of resources in the county.

Sakaja; worst leadership! Nairobi UDA MPs declare

Nairobi MPs were recently engaged in crosshairs over mismanagement, asserting that the capital city “could be facing its worst leadership crisis at City Hall.”

“The dream that was sold during the campaigns of a city of order and dignity, hope and opportunity for all has turned into the nightmare that Nairobi is becoming, clamped in an ever tightening chockehold of an arrogant, aloof and dangerously corrupt leadership,” stated a statement read by Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie.

UDA Party elections

UDA will hold elections in Nairobi, Homa Bay, Busia, West Pokot and Narok on Friday. According to Secretary General Cleophas Malala, 13,700 UDA members have declared their candidature for different party positions.

“The county contest will start shaping up once we conduct the elections at the polling centres because those elected at this level will form the electoral college for the election at the next level,” declared Malala.