Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi has broken his silence over his absence from President William Ruto’s Kamukunji rally, denying speculation that he dodged the event to steer clear of Governor Johnson Sakaja, his expected opponent in the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race.

Speaking during an interview with Milele FM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Wanyonyi rubbished suggestions that he was strategically dodging political figures and also dismissed further speculation that his no-show at the prayer meeting for Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission (AUC) bid at Bomas was fuelled by vendettas.

According to Wanyonyi, he had been out of the country for a crucial engagement during the Bomas event and, contrary to speculation, had been duly informed about the meeting but was simply unavailable to attend.

“Wengi walisema kwamba haukutaka kuappear katika siku ya kwanza ya ziara ya Rais wakisema kwamba haukutaka kushare platform na Sakaja. Wewe pia unatarajia kuwania ugavana. Ulikuwa na mambo ya grassroots elections. Tulimuona Raila akifanyiwa maombi na akimuunga mkono Sakaja. Sijui kama ulikuwa kwenye hiyo hafla,” Milele FM journalist Francis Luchivya posed.

“Sikuwa pia hiyo wakati ya maombi ya Baba Bomas, nilikuwa nimesafiri. Viongozi kadhaa walikuwa wameweka maombi na walikuwa wamuombee. Nilijua kila kitu ila sikuwa karibu. Pia hiyo rally ya Kamukunji nilikuwa na mambo kadhaa kwa grassroots ambayo nilikuwa nikishughulikia,” Wanyonyi responded.

2027 Rival

Wanyonyi then shifted focus to his perceived 2027 gubernatorial rival, the current Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, bluntly stating that he has brought no tangible development to the county and that residents are bearing the brunt of his failed leadership.

He dismissed talk that Sakaja had secured a subtle endorsement from ODM leader Raila Odinga, arguing that the governor was merely desperate for the former Prime Minister’s recognition and had been trailing him everywhere in a bid to gain political mileage.

“Na Governor Sakaja amekuwa akiskia Baba ako mahali, jamaa anajitokeza. Kwa njia ya kuonyesha ya kwamba yeye ndiye ako karibu sana na yeye siku hizi anajaribu kupata masikio yake na kujaribu kuonyesha kuwa yeye ndiye ako karibu sana na Baba na anajaribu kupata masikio yake,” he remarked.

Wanyonyi made it clear that Sakaja should not consider himself a member of ODM, insisting that he should stick to UDA. He further taunted him, saying he was eagerly waiting for 2027 to decisively defeat him, regardless of the party under which he runs.

According to Wanyonyi, Sakaja has already lost credibility among Nairobians due to his failure to deliver tangible development and has instead been trying to place himself at the centre of major events, such as Ruto’s Nairobi tour, where he had no significant role in planning, just to regain relevance.

“Sisi tunasema yeye si mwana ODM, ni Governor tu. Hata akitaka kuja lakini akikuja atapiga foleni. Akae huko nyuma. Kama atataka kiti cha ugavana na ODM tuwekwe kwa kinyang’anyiro tuone nani atakuwa kipaumbele. Sakaja hata akuje na chama kipi, ataanguka kura hapa Nairobi kwa sababu kazi imemlemea na watu hapa pia wanajua. Anajaribu tu kujipendekeza. Yeye hakuwa sehemu ya kupanga hii tour ya Rais ya Nairobi lakini alikuwa hapo kila mahali. Na hakuna mradi wowote alionyesha Rais amefanya. Kama angekuwa na mradi angeonyesha, lakini yeye alikuwa anaongelea tu mambo ya chakula. Sisi hatukatai mambo ya lishe ya watoto,” he stated.

Ruto’s chapatis promise

Wanyonyi also took a jab at President William Ruto’s promise to provide Nairobi schoolchildren with a machine capable of producing one million chapatis daily, saying Sakaja had made the statement as a joke, but the President failed to grasp that.

He questioned how the Head of State could be so oblivious to realise that such a grandiose promise was unrealistic and cast doubts on whether the pledge would ever materialise.

“Watoto wakamwambia wanataka chapatti. Na anaambia Rais ati anunue machine badala ya achukue kama joke naye Rais akamrudishia. Hata ukimsikiza Sakaja, hakuna mahali alikuja akasema labda kuna mfereji wa maji ama mradi. Inamaanisha hana kitu amefanya Nairobi. Na kazi yake si hiyo maneno ya chakula pekee. Hatukatai mradi wa lishe ya watoto, but it should not be the only objective. Ukiangalia takataka imejaa kila mahali. Hata ukiangalia juzi alimwaga takataka katika maeneo ya watu kufanyia kazi,” he added.