Johnson Sakaja, Edwin Sifuna Put Aside Differences To Address Flooding Situation

• Governor Johnson Sakaja and Edwin Sifuna have been having disagreements over several issues about Nairobi
• Sifuna accused Sakaja of being inaccessible, claiming that he had severally tried to reach him in vain
• The two leaders were captured having a hearty conversation during a meeting Sakaja had convened

Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja and Senator Edwin Sifuna put aside their differences to devise urgent intervention measures for the county's flood victims.

Edwin Sifuna, Johnson Sakaja row

Friction and accusations of underperformance and lack of accessibility have punctuated the two leaders' relationship in the past.

However, the two, who have not been on the same page, united in a bid to address the urgent needs of their voters.

During the meeting that Sakaja convened, Sifuna said he was ready to work hand in hand with the governor and other leaders to provide urgent humanitarian aid to victims of floods in many parts of the city.

Sifuna ready to support Sakaja's floods mitigation plan

“We want to see the plan. As long as there is a plan, we will get behind it and ensure our people are cared for," Sifuna said.

The senator also called on the national government to support the county in reaching out to the affected people and giving them basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.

"We urge and are hopeful the national government will intervene the soonest possible because our people are really in need," Sifuna said.

TUKO.co.ke understands that Sakaja convened the meeting on short notice to get the input of Nairobi legislators both in the national and county assembly on the way forward for flood victims.

Flooding situation in Nairobi

The meeting's top agenda item was setting up infrastructure and dispensing humanitarian aid to cushion affected households from the floods' further effects.

"We discussed the public schools affected by the floods and what needs to be done to ensure learning resumes when they reopen," said the governor.

Other MPs who attended the meeting include Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka), George Aladwa (Makadara), Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), and Julius Mawathe of Embakasi South.

Nairobi Members of the County Assembly also attended the meeting.

This comes as the city's leadership has been under fire from the residents over the flooding situation.

Kenyans have questioned where the county's money to mitigate the El Nino rains effect went and demanded accountability from the leadership.

Nairobi county was also on the spot over plans to purchase inflatable boats for rescue operations in case of floods.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke