Igathe resignation: Jubilee leadership to broker truce

Troubled by the sudden resignation of Nairobi Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe, the Nairobi County Jubilee leadership says it will broker a truce between the governor and his outgoing deputy.

“We know there are some clauses of the Constitution that are not quite clear, we are looking at the law to ensure Nyeri and Nairobi get deputy governors. In Nairobi, we will try and broker a deal,” said Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja on Saturday, January 13.

In his resignation, Igathe cited lack of trust between him and Governor Mike Sonko, but sources familiar with goings on at city hall have intimated to Citizen TV that being a technocrat, Igathe had a false impression that he would drive the day to day affairs in the city county – a lofty pledge made to him before he resigned from Vivo energy.

Being the economic hub of the country, Nairobi controls billions of shillings and Igathe expected to use his business acumen to take charge but was overrun by Governor Sonko who insiders say felt, he had earned the full mandate of the electorate to run the affairs of the county and not just a political figurehead as earlier promised during campaigns.

The two sources further told Citizen TV that Sonko and Igathe fell out on the appointment of Peter Kariuki as the County Secretary. Reports indicate that Kariuki, who was being fronted by Igathe, was previously based at State House where he headed the project delivery unit. To frustrate this plot, Sonko advertised for the position of deputy county secretary to have his preferred candidate as a check mate to the Igathe move.

Further, the duo who promised to rid the city of cartels that they accused of hijacking projects from the Kidero regime we are told failed to strike a common cord on handling of the online pay platform Jambo Pay, a matter insiders claim strained their working relationship further.

From the foregoing, the Senate Committee on Devolution now says it will summon Governor Sonko to shed light on the deterioration of his relationship with the deputy governor, with a letter set to be dispatched to City Hall on Wednesday.

Sonko’s political advisor Onchari Oyieyo has however sort to calm the tension noting that there was no power vacuum as the governor had put in place professionals capable of running the affairs of the county.

“The County is stable and there is no vacuum. The Governor is surrounded by professional men and women capable of running Nairobi,” said Mr. Onchari.

The outgoing deputy governor Polycarp Igathe remains unavailable for comment even as Nairobi County prepares to give a comprehensive statement on Monday.