The move to ban matatus from entering into the CBD brew a deep political divide between Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and Senator Johnston Sakaja.
Senator Sakaja stood to defend the rights of residents of Nairobi who felt betrayed by the governor. According to Sakaja the move to decongest the city was not well informed.
Sakaja urged that the Governor did not seek relevant advice before calling for its implementation. This forced the senator to move to the court in efforts to stop the governor.
Sakaja went to court to file a petition against the ban of matatus from the Central Business District.
Through Mwenje and Karanja advocates, he wanted the suspension of the order to be based on lack of public participation.
But right now it seems that the governor is determined to end the rivalry.
Speaking during a KCB graduation ceremony on Thursday, he asked Senator Johnston Sakaja to work with him instead of fighting him.
“Sakaja, I fought former Governor Evans Kidero and even took him to court. But Sonko is not Kidero. Come let us work together,” Sonko said.
Sonko has also said that the plan to decongest the city is still on but looking for a favorable means to implement it. He has also insisted that the walking is not a punishment but form of exercise.
“Those who walked to the CBD because of the matatu ban in the CBD, this is just a step forward… Walking is an exercise and you will still walk. Even in Rwanda, people walk,” he said.
“We will only look after the pregnant women, elderly and the physically challenged. For the youth, you must walk. From Muthurwa or any other place to the CBD is only 1km…I will not allow laziness.”
Sonko said Nairobi is Kenya’s international city and must be made to mirror that.
“Let me be a one-term governor but I will not leave Nairobi the way I found it. There will be politics during the day and they [politicians] will sleep at night,” he said.