By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has come out to put things straight over claims he does not respect the Senate.
Sakaja has found himself in the bad books of the Senate after skipping several summons.
The latest snub was on Thursday, April 11, 2024, after he failed to appear before the Senate Committee that is investigating the Mradi fire incident in the Embakasi area.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna who is a member of the committee said they had resolved to direct the Inspector General of Police to arrest the county boss and present him on September 25, 2024.
In addition, the committee fined Sakaja Ksh500,000 for snubbing their summon.
“The Senate Energy Committee looking into the Mradi gas explosion in Embakasi has resolved to fine Governor Sakaja another ksh 500,000 and requested the IG of Police to arrest and present him to the committee on 25th April 2024. He failed to appear again this morning,” Sifuna said in a post on his verified X handle.
But in his response, Sakaja dismissed claims he had no respect for the Senate.
He noted that he has been out of the country hence he could not honour the summons to appear before the Senate committee.
Sakaja further downplayed assumptions that he was avoiding appearing before the Senate to answer audit queries regarding the management of Nairobi County finances.
“Appearing before the Senate is a constitutional requirement which I take seriously. It is the same members who announced that I was out of the country on Monday who are now up in arms that I am away,” the governor said.
“I have appeared severally and will continue to do so. I have no reasons not to answer to respond to any questions raised on Mradi or FY 20-22 audits,” he added.
In addition, the county boss accused Senator Sifuna of sensationalizing a rescheduling in a move he noted was making the Senate appear as if it was acting in vain and in the process belittling the Senate.
“Many appearances by other invitees have been rescheduled due to travel, infirmity or prior booked official engagements,” Sakaja said.