Sakaja on receiving end of Babu Owino’s social media attacks again, this time over Dishi Na County Program
In his latest jab at Nairobi Governor Hon. Johnson Sakaja, Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Babu Owino has discredited the perceived effectiveness of Nairobi County’s “Dishi Na County School Feeding Program” initiative by Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja and executed alongside his Deputy James Muchiri.
The program is geared towards providing nutritious meals to public school-going learners in Nairobi County.
“Each school should have well equiped kitchen and staff, Sakaja’s 10 kitchens cannot feed hundreds of thousands of learners in Nairobi, the ratio of kitchens to kids is ridiculous, but again someone who ran away from school and is using fake degree certificates cannot understand this simple facts,” wrote Babu on X
Babu Owino had just a day ago on social media accused Sakaja of inflating the amount of money disbursed to Nairobi County Members of County Assembly (MCA’s) in a bid to boost his performance record.
Hon. Johnson Sakaja who came out to discredit Kenya Governors rankings published on social media on Friday rating him among poorest performing sitting governors, had outlined a couple of his one year old Nairobi county government’s accomplishments under his leadership. He highlighted various completed projects such as a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a second Renal Unit, and first ever Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
“I see such ratings and laugh. Nairobi has collected the highest revenue in 5 years, paid 7,640 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) monthly from August last year, built first ICU, 2nd renal unit, 1st NICU ever, employed 2,500 Green Army, built 10 kitchens to feed 250k children already 88k on boarded, tarmacked roads, put up street lights..” read Sakaja’s social media comment in part
Babu Owino did not let the controversial report go unnoticed. He frankly ridiculed the Governor and engaged him in sardonic back and forth for the better part of the weekend. The MPs recent derogatory words at the Governor are said to be motivated by his ambition to become Nairobi Governor through the next Kenya General Elections set for the year 2027.
“Sakaja is an embarrassment to the People of Nairobi. How can you be ranked last out of 47 Counties? Kazi ni Kuiba pesa Za Nairobi County and buying Houses in America, London and Dubai,” wrote Babu.
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The Embakasi East MP went on to disregard Sakaja’s claim that his county government has disbursed Ksh. 7 million to each Ward in Nairobi for bursaries, as well as Ksh. 23 million for development projects.
“Stop lying you gave MCAs 1200 bursary forms at 5k each which amounts to 6 million shillings not Ksh.23M which you are claiming. Every ward is supposed to get 23m shillings per year for bursaries, where’s the Ksh.17M shillings per ward for 85 wards= Ksh.1.4B shillings?” Babu scoffed
However, another survey carried out by “Timely Kenya” across the country ranked Hon. Johnson Sakaja among the top 10 best-performing governors. This survey conducted between 1st to 9th September 2023 according to CEO Rozalia Tadeusz recorded feedback from a sample size of 2,043 respondents and saw Gov. Sakaja take position 5 with 67%. Governors ranked higher in top 5 best-performers were Gladys Wanga of Homa Bay at position 1 with 75.7%, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr for Makueni County at 71%, Muthomi Njuki of Tharaka Nithi with 69.8%, and number 4 right above Sakaja was Irungu Kang’ata of Murang’a gunning 68.3% marks.
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Sakaja did not shy or stutter in his response to Babu Owino’s slanderous accusations. Renowned Kenyan lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi’s vote of no confidence in the report published on social media which was the source of Babu’s and Sakaja’s bare knuckle virtual tussle afforded the first term governor some extra self-confidence to defend his stand.
“Bursaries are Ksh.7M per ward, that’s Ksh.2.5M term 1, Ksh.2.5M term 2 and Ksh.2M term 3, up from Ksh.4.5M (per year). Every ward is getting Ward-based Development Find (WDF) of Ksh.23 Million for Development not bursaries. Up from Ksh.17M.” read Sakaja’s virtual retaliation in part
The two elected government officials plainly blamed each other’s apparent drug use and abuse for their differing opinions with Babu saying Sakaja is addicted to Alcohol and Bhang, while Sakaja asked Babu to stop using cocaine and seek help at one of the rehabilitation facilities in Nairobi County.