The National Assembly has lost a key witness in the impeachment case against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This is after Nairobi governorย Johnson Sakajaย withdrew from his scheduled testimony.[โฆ]CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLEโถ
Sakaja, who was expected to provide crucial insights into Gachaguaโs alleged misconduct, flew to North America, where he is attending a global summit. He is in Mexico City for the prestigious Bloomberg CityLab, a global summit organised by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The summit brings together over 500 mayors, policymakers, innovators, and thought leaders to discuss solutions for the most pressing urban challenges.
During the summit, Sakaja highlighted Nairobi’s youthful population’s potential and shared insights on how the city is tackling its urban challenges.
His absence from the Senate trial, however, has raised questions about its impact on the National Assemblyโs case against Gachagua.
In the affidavit, Sakaja accuses the deputy president of opposing the relocation of traders from Nairobi’s Wakulima Market to Kangundo Road Market.
Sakaja claims that on Friday, September 20, Gachagua unlawfully interfered with the running of theย Nairobi Countyย government by holding a rally and inciting citizens against lawful directives related to market management and planning.
According to the governor, Gachaguaโs actions not only disregarded the high office he holds but also undermined county governance.
Sakaja claims Gachagua had previously used ethnic incitement to interfere with the county governmentโs traffic management in Nairobi.
“I believe that Gachaguaโs inciting and demeaning public statements and conduct are impeachable offences. They undermine devolution, the functional and institutional integrity of county governments and unjustifiably denigrate and ridicule the leadership of county governments,” Sakaja states in his affidavit.
Elsewhere,ย a new testimony emergedย from Peterson Muchira, who claims Gachagua persuaded him to purchase the Olive Gardens Hotel for KSh 412 million via an “informal secret agreement.”
In his witness statement, Muchira recounted an alleged encounter with the deputy president on March 31, 2023, during which Gachagua allegedly convinced him to finalise the deal.
He claimed that Gachagua utilised a proxy, Julianne Jahenda, described as a close associate, to safeguard his alleged interests in the hotelโฆCLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES>>>
