Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has come out to justify his reasons for failing to appear before the Senate Energy Committee on Thursday, which saw him fined Ksh.500, 000.
The Nairobi Governor in his response said that he values the mandate of the Senate and will continue to appear before the House when required.
In addition, the Governor argued that he rescheduled the Senate hearing, noting that the house has adjourned other summons by individuals invited to the house due to various reasons including travel.
“Sensationalizing a rescheduling and making the Senate appear as if it acts in vain is what belittles the house. Many appearances by other invitees have been rescheduled due to travel, infirmity, or prior booked official engagements,” he posted on his X account.
Sakaja stated that he has appeared before the Senate several times and is willing to answer all the questions addressed concerning the Mradi blast or Financial Year 2020 to 2022 audits. He asserted that he takes summons from the senate with utmost gravity, as it is a constitutional requirement.
“I have appeared severally and will continue to do so. I have no reasons not to answer or respond to any questions raised on Mradi or FY 20-22 audits,” Sakaja asserted.
“Appearing before the Senate is a constitutional requirement which I take seriously. It is the same members who announced that I was out of the country on Monday who are now up in arms that I am away.”
The committee had summoned Sakaja to shed light on the progress of regeneration projects across city estates.
“Nairobi City County Governor @SakajaJohnson fined Ksh 500,000 for failure to appear before the Senate Roads & Housing Committee to deliberate on Nairobi Regeneration Projects in City’s estates,” the Senate said in a statement on X.
Sakaja is presently in Cape Town, South Africa, accompanied by officials of the Nairobi Water Company to reportedly engage in a water reuse conversation together with other global cities.
Sakaja’s statement comes after he was fined Ksh 500,000, following a summon that was looking into the Mradi gas explosion in Embakasi that occurred on February 2, leaving 6 dead and over 200 people injured.
