Johnson Sakaja Claps Back At Gachagua, Sneers At His Social Media Advice: "You've My Number"

• Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja wants Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to engage him directly on the phone over the relocation of the Wakulima Market traders
• Gachagua had taken to social media to castigate the county boss over the move, accusing him of hurting the livelihoods of the small enterprise owners
• The deputy president argued that Sakaja should have engaged the traders to decide on the way forward amicably

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has responded to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who took to social media to decry the eviction of traders from Wakulima Market.

The deputy president was disturbed by the eviction of the traders who were caught in a melee as police intervened to contain them as they resisted the enforcement of their relocation following a notice served to them.

Gachagua took issue with the county's mode of operation.

He said it would have been rational had the governor engaged the traders before enforcing the eviction as stipulated in a notice served to them.

Seeming to strike a conciliatory tone, a usually abrasive Gachagua reminded Sakaja -whom he called "my younger brother"- that the people whose relocation he was unceremoniously enforcing voted for him in the 2022 elections.

In a quick response, Sakaja told Gachagua that he should have addressed his concerns via a phone call.

"My elder brother H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, you have my number," said Sakaja.