This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja Faces Backlash ¶
Two days after a hashtag #shameonSakaja trended on Twitter, another one #SakajabetraysNairobi has emerged, painting Senator Johnson Sakaja as a leader who has betrayed his own country.
The backlash is due to Sakaja's stand in the debate on the third basis formula for revenue allocation to counties. The contentious suggestion of one man one vote would have benefited Nairobi the most, but countries such as Wajir, the 10th poorest county, would lose up to Sh1.4 billion.
Nairobi is the most populous county and would have received the lion's share from the counties' budget, had the new formula been approved by the Senate.
The Senate reconvenes tomorrow to consider among other options the amendment crafted by the Nairobi Senator and his Makueni counterpart.
This is not the first time that Sakaja has topped the chart of social media discussions. Last month, he was charged with disobeying the containment measures and released on Sh15,000 bond or a jail term not exceeding six months upon default.
President Uhuru Kenyatta reviewed the health safety protocols banning bars from operation and prohibiting public consumption of liquor after the incident. The development had an adverse ramification on Sakaja, whose name trended on Twitter under #ShameonyouSakaja, as Kenyans made all sorts of jokes blaming him for the closure of bars.
As one Twitter user put it, 'By floating Covid rules, Sakaja portrayed how he is a let down, not only to his friend President who was trying all he can to galvanise the nation into fighting the rampant coronavirus pandemic, but also to his family, colleagues and the people of Nairobi.'
