Gachagua Warns Governor Sakaja over Plans to Kick Matatus Out of Nairobi CBD

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over his administration’s plan to kick out matatus from the Central Business District (CBD), saying it will hurt business.

Gachagua, who spoke in Nyeri on Monday, reminded Governor Sakaja that he mobilized Kikuyus to vote for him in the August 9th elections, adding that he needs to slow down and consult before making such decisions 

“I have told the Nairobi Governor that we will have a sitting with him because we are the ones who elected him. I mobilized Kikuyus in Nairobi to vote for him and called him. Any decision that he makes which may affect business in Nairobi, we must first sit and discuss,” Gachagua said.

He added: "I want Sakaja to note that all decisions that will negatively affect Mt Kenya people in Nairobi must be discussed. I have to be involved. We will not accept anything that troubles our businessmen.”

The deputy president said Sakaja should emulate his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika, who recently ordered public service vehicles to return to the city centre following a ban imposed by her predecessor Lee Kinyanjui.

"I want to appreciate [Governor] Kihika who is a good daughter of ours...She found the matatu transport investors chased out of the town to a forest by governor Lee Kinyanjui...I had gone there and sensitized them on how to vote. I told the Nakuru people that their destiny was in their own hands...that they had the full powers to send Kinyanjui to that forest and they bring back their matatus to town,” he said.

Gachagua urged Sakaja to meet him in order to resolve the issue, which has since sparked opposition from stakeholders in the transport industry.

“It is a no for any of his decisions that might have a negative effect on our people. We made you governor and we are vigilant on our interests" and "we must get involved in those decisions that have an effect on our people,” he said.