Kenyan Newspapers Review, May 30: Johnson Sakaja Gathers Courage To Fiercely Take On Gachagua

On Thursday, May 30, the local dailies broadly covered the infighting in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, with a section of elected leaders in the party grouping against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

One of the dailies covered the deputy president's position on the claims he was scouting for a new political party outside UDA.

1. People Daily

The publication reported Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja's newfound courage to take on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over alleged bullying.

Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday, May 29, Sakaja suggested the deputy president had been sabotaging his leadership in the city county.

He asked Gachagua to desist from claiming he helped him get the governorship post.

Referring to the deputy president as a coward, the governor accused him of bullying for two years.

According to Sakaja, the frustration Gachagua was going through in the ruling party was a taste of his medicine.

"I have been through a lot, and one thing for sure is that I am a person who never gets intimidated. Today, I want to make it clear that nobody should move around boasting that they helped me be the governor. I was elected by Nairobians who believed in my manifesto," said Sakaja.

"You can't be bullying people for two years and then start crying when you are mentioned in one week."

2. Daily Nation

The daily covered the turmoil in the ruling UDA party where elected leaders have not been reading from the same script.

Leaders elected on the party's tickets have taken sides to show open defiance to the top leadership.

A section has ganged up against Gachagua, the deputy party leader, with another one ganging up against their colleagues to defend him.

The differences played out in public on Wednesday, May 29, when the party's secretary general, Cleophas Malalah, read a riot act to them.

Malalah noted that some ranking members were disrespecting the political outfit's top leadership, singling out five whom he put on notice.

The secretary general warned Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Githunguri's Gathoni Wamuchomba, Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga, CSs Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads) and Moses Kuria (Public Service).

Reacting to Malalah's sanctions, the leaders lash out at him while questioning his ability to steer the party.

Sudi, Kahiga and Githunguri dared Malalah to proceed with his resolve to discipline them.

Meanwhile, Gachagua refuted claims he was scouting for a new political party.

He had been linked with The New Democrats (TND) party, which he reportedly sought to partner with as he contemplated quitting UDA over the frustrations meted out to him.

Gachagua's office clarified that he was still the substantive deputy party leader and undertaking his roles.

3. Taifa Leo

The newspaper covered the prayer by the Exchequer to cut spending in three top state offices in the 2024/25 budget.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's office, President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua's offices, and the State House have been targeted.

The Treasury blamed inadequate revenue collection for the budget's reduction of KSh 273.3 billion, from KSh 4.188 trillion to KSh 3.9 trillion.

Documents presented in the National Assembly showed the Treasury slashed the trio's budgets and allocated the funds to other departments in tight austerity measures.

Treasury Principal Secretary (PS) Chris Kiptoo delivered the documents to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro chairs.

State House was allocated a budget of KSh 9.49 billion, Ruto's office KSh 5.42 billion, Gachagua's office KSh 4.87 billion, and Mudavadi's office will get KSh 1.14 billion.

However, Kiptoo did not explain how the budgets will be reviewed.

4. The Standard

The publication spared space to mourn its employee Shadrack Mitty, who was announced dead on Wednesday, May 29.

Mitty died while undergoing treatment at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) after complaining of severe body pains.

His family said he awaited a review from cardiologists who would determine whether or not he would undergo heart surgery.

The Standard Group eulogised Mitty eulogised him as a respected journalist with significant expertise in covering education news.

Before joining Standard Media, Mitty worked as a reporter for Kenya News Agency (KNA) and Nation Media Group.

He is survived by his widow and their eight-year-old daughter.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.