Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli has warned Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja of the unlikelihood of being re-elected in 2027.
Speaking on Saturday, April 5, during the COTU Shop Stewards Meeting in Nairobi as the precursor of this year's Labour Day celebrations, Atwoli observed that Sakaja was failing in his mandate.
Atwoli explained that Sakaja's lack of performance was indicated by the dirt and garbage in the city.
According to the COTU boss, Nairobi has become so dirty in the tenure of Sakaja, making it inhabitable among cities in Africa.
"The main problem in Nairobi at the moment is that it is the dirtiest city in the world, irrespective of my son (Sakaja) being the governor. There are no walk pavements, and he will have to do a lot of work before 2027. We wanted the youths to come and change and show that the young leaders can outperform the old," Atwoli said.
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Atwoli said that unless Sakaja upped his game and beautified Nairobi, he was bound to be a one-term governor.
He counselled the governor to use the law to put up clean pavements and encourage business owners to clean and paint their premises to enhance the look of the city.
Atwoli added that allowing hawkers in the city was also making it disorganised.
The COTU boss was concerned that smaller cities like Kisumu and townships like Kilifi were outdoing Nairobi, the country's capital.
"I want those close to him to advise him. He must make Nairobi clean; we have no problem with him. Let us not lie to him because we want to 'drink' from him. He should get the hawkers out of Nairobi; he should regulate the city and the people we elect him..Kisumu governor got hawkers out of the city, and he was elected with many votes. The best cities right now are Kisumu and Kilifi... I was born in Nairobi, and you hate now walking here and seeing garbage everywhere. I want to advise my son to clean the city," Atwoli said.
Sakaja, who was elected in 2022 as Nairobi's fourth governor, will be facing off with a host of political bigwigs as he seeks his re-election.
Among the contestants eyeing the leadership at City Hall are Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Westlands' Tim Wanyonyi.
