When he assumed office on August 25, 2022, Governor Johnson Sakaja highlighted the motivation behind his candidacy and outlined a robust vision to restore order and make Nairobi work.
The former Nairobi Senator had his work cut out after aggressively campaigning against all odds to romp into victory after defeating former city Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe of the Jubilee party.
Sakaja was taking over the reins of power against the backdrop of a massive mess at City Hall that had made the county nearly dysfunctional and disorganized due to incessant political fights.
His predecessor, Anne Kananu, was in November 2021 hurriedly installed into office after the swift impeachment of Mike Sonko who was overwhelmingly elected in the 2017 general election.
“I have always truly believed that all we need is a working city, and we will become unstoppable, a regional and global force; this is what we stand for –a city of order and dignity, hope and opportunity for all,’’ Sakaja declared as he took the oath of office.
As Sakaja marks two years in office in a week’s time, the wind of tranquillity, order and stability has become the hallmark of his tenure, managing to steer the city steadily in the last 24 months.
While some of his colleagues across the country have had to endure frequent squabbles with MCAs and elected leaders, Sakaja is yet to face any impeachment threat from the assembly.
For instance, Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has faced a record five impeachment motions-three of which have made their way to the Senate latest being an ouster by MCAs a week ago.
The wave of impeachment threats has characterized the tenures of a host of other governors across the country including those coming from political parties that form the majority of the assemblies.
For Sakaja, crossing almost half the mark of his first term without facing an impeachment motion, leave a lone threat, is seen as a remarkable achievement that affirms his firm grip on City Hall.
Having anchored his campaigns on a radical platform of fixing the mess at City Hall, making the county work and turning around the management of the capital city, Sakaja appears on course, analysts say.
Observers say Sakaja has tactfully navigated the city's delicate political party barriers to ensure the capital city’s stability, a stark contrast to the chaos that rocked past regimes.
Being the capital city, Nairobi is not just one of the country’s 47 devolved units, but a strategic county for the national government as it is home to the seat of power and key internal organisations.
Besides his administration, in the last financial year, recording the highest ever revenue generation by any county government since the advent of devolution- Sh12.8 billion, the city has enjoyed relative political tranquillity.
When asked about Sakaja’s performance over the last two years, Makadara MP George Aladwa, a former mayor at City Hall, said the governor’s ability to transcend political parties has been a master stroke.
“Give credit where due, when Sakaja took office, the City was in chaos and almost dysfunctional, but two years later, we have seen the order and some work being done although there is a lot that must be fixed,’’ Aladwa said.
The former Mayor noted that the management of the city needed a manager with the ability to work with all leaders across the political divide to ensure stability and a conducive environment to do business.
“I has been a remarkable two years although I must admit that the recent anti-government protests affected by a great deal the ease of doing business with huge revenue losses,’’ he said.
Analysts also argue that the governor’s spirit of resilience has played a major role in stabilizing the city.
Sakaja’s August 11 visit to the fragile Toi Market to speak to angry traders, days after he was forced to retreat following pockets of hostility, highlighted his resilience, analysts say.
Sakaja had on August 3 walked straight into charged youths who pelted him with stones as he tried to access Toi Market to assess damages caused by a fire that also claimed four lives.
The governor was shielded by his guards as a section of the raging youths threw stones and other projectiles at him, forcing him to pull out of the Market following the resistance.
However, on his second visit, Sakaja made a dramatic return and unveiled his ambitious plans for traders including a Sh100 million perimeter wall to secure stalls.
Toi market is one of the first batch of 10 markets across Nairobi that are earmarked by Sakaja’s administration for massive facelifts.
Others are Maji Mazuri, Mutuini, Kangemi, Baba Dogo, Jujo, Ngumba, among others with the county now keen on securing title deeds for all markets across the city.
Sakaja on Sunday reaffirmed his commitment to stand with the traders in their time of need, saying that as Governor, he could not run away from his people and delivered 5,000 iron sheets.
"Even when things got tough last time, I didn’t run away. I walked out calmly because you are my people, and we must support each other," he said.
Sakaja’s rapturous reception by the traders on Sunday and the order that followed as he addressed business owners, pundits say, exposed his political charisma and dare-devil approach.
Political analysts argue that, unlike his predecessors, Sakaja has cleverly managed to knit a political working relationship even with his perceived critics to stabilise the capital city.
“When you look at Sakaja’s political and leadership approach, he cuts an image of a resilient leader and manager willing to embrace allies and critics alike to steer the capital city," Political Risk Analyst Dismus Mokua said.
According to the analyst, Sakaja has managed to stabilise the county after years of chaotic scenes that marked past regimes where governors and members of the executive clashed with MCAs.
“As you might have noticed, Sakaja has not faced any resistance in the Assembly where most of his matters have been processed without opposition, that speaks to a strategic leader and manager with the ability to work with critics," he said.
Political analyst Alexander Nyamboga termed Sakaja as a political chess player who has mastered the art of city politics.
"It is interesting to note that while his colleagues have faced impeachment threats over the last 22 months, Sakaja has maintained a firm grip on the county," he said.
"He knows the bolts and nuts of city politics and works with those who pull levers of powers, many would have not dared step back at Toi market after the first stoning incident, he made the daring move."
Nyamboga argues that working with both President Ruto and Azimio boss Raila Odinga is the magic that has seen Sakaja stabilise the county.
Past city regimes were marked with tensions, squabbles and tussles between the County Assemblies and the executive resulting in incessant fights that delayed service delivery.
Occasionally, the tensions were manifested during public forums where hired goons heckled members of the executive, with MCAs frequently stalling the budget-making process.
For instance, during Governor Sonko’s regime, some of his budget proposals were shot down many times by the MCAs at the height of their bitter fallouts.
The former governor could occasionally be forced to convene firefighting meetings with MCAs to address their issues as some cried foul over lack of facilitation.
Despite Sakaja’s Kenya Kwanza alliance being a minority in the Nairobi City County Assembly, the governor’s budgets and programmes have not faced any lethal opposition from MCAs.
President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza is the minority party in the City County Assembly while opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Azimio coalition is the majority party.
Political analysts argue that it is Nairobi City County Assembly’s unique leadership that has forced Sakaja to get out of his way to develop a working partnership with MCAs for the sake of his agenda.
The collaboration between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio MCAs has been crucial in the passage of Sakaja’s key businesses including crucial Bills.
Sakaja is said to enjoy a cordial working relationship with Raila and other key opposition figures without compromising his ties with President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza family.
On Sunday, Sakaja lauded the “handshake’’ between Ruto and Raila saying it was in the best interest of the country.
“Seeing Baba [Raila Odinga] with our President is the best move for our country. It is for the betterment of everyone,” Sakaja said when he visited Toi Market.
The governor further lauded the inclusion of other members away from UDA in the Cabinet saying now all regions are included.
“Now we have Wycliffe Oparanya, John Mbadi, Hassan Joho in cabinet among others, we expect them to deliver diligently for Kenyans,” he said.
Sakaja’s announcement of a sh100 million perimeter wall around Toi Market lifted the lid on his close working relationship with Raila.
Raila had on August 5 asked Sakaja to build the perimeter wall immediately.
"I have issued an order to the governor that the construction of this fence surrounding the market should begin immediately. This is because they have one hundred million shillings in their budget this year to start building this market. We are saying they should begin by constructing the fence,” said Raila.