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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua undertook on Wednesday to broker a truce between Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and the city county elected leaders with a view to  bolstering faster implementation of development projects across the city.

Gachagua said he had been approached by the Governor to intervene in a bid to avert an escalation of misunderstanding between him and elected leaders in the city.

Speaking on in the evening when he  went to condole with Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and his family for the loss of his brother David Gakuya, Gachagua said he is ready to have a sitting with the leaders to solve disagreements for the betterment of lives of Nairobi residents, who overwhelmingly voted for the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Convene meeting

“I had a conversation with the governor and he agreed that there was a need to bring together all the leaders in Nairobi. I am going to convene the meeting with the MCAs, MPs and the Governor. I will chair the meeting,” the DP said.

One of the mandates of the Deputy President is to co-ordinate Inter-Governmental relations between the National and County Governments.

The Deputy President also commended Sakaja for accepting responsibility and called for talks to resolve any stalemate with the leaders. “The way to solve an issue is first to accept responsibility. I am happy that the governor is positive on this. So, very soon, I am going to call the meeting so that we can iron out the differences,” he stated.

Members of Parliament led by Gakuya pleaded with Gachagua to intervene and ensure a better working relationship with the county government.

He added that for development to be felt by the constituents, leaders are supposed to collaborate. “We also want to feel a part of the leadership of the city. Kenya kwanza MCAs are saying they have been neglected. We want you to intervene and give a solution to this stalemate. You are the only person who can call all of us together and guide us on how we will work together,” Gakuya said.

City residents

On development matters in the city, Gachagua said the national government will implement hundreds of projects to better the lives of city residents.  “In the last one year, the President has been working day and night to ensure that the economy of the country stabilises. We are now good to go, I will plan a schedule that in every two weeks I have a day to go around Nairobi County opening development projects and connecting with the people who overwhelmingly voted for us,” he said. 

Gachagua was accompanied by a host of leaders including Members of Parliament Augustine Mwafrika (Roysambu), John Kaguchia (Mukurwe-ini), Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), Benjamin Gathiru Mejja Donk (Embakasi Central), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), Joseph Munyoro (Kigumo), Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri), Peter Kihungi (Kangema), Gitari Gachoki (Kirinyaga Central), George Gachagua (Ndaragwa), George Koimburi (Juja), Joyce Kasimbi (Machakos County), James Githua (Kabete) and Irene Njoki (Bahati). 

 Others were former Starehe MP Charles Kanyi Jaguar and MCAs from Nairobi, among other leaders.