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Amid all the noise, confusion, and shifting alliances in Nairobi\u2019s political arena, one truth still stands tall: Johnson Arthur Sakaja is poised to beat his opponents\u2014hands down<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Love him or hate him, call him whatever you wish, but the reality is simple: Sakaja remains the indisputable favourite for Nairobi\u2019s gubernatorial seat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They say a fruit never falls far from its mother tree. Champions beget champions. And Sakaja\u2019s story is exactly that\u2014a tale shaped by resilience, talent, grit, and destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Born to Emily Ayot<\/strong>, a pioneering Kenyan medalist, and raised partly in the rugged valleys of Kakamega\u2019s Bushangala, young Sakaja absorbed the spirit of fighters and champions. Life thrust him into Nairobi after losing his mother at a tender age\u2014yet even then, he stood tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a young man, Sakaja became a key player in Mwai Kibaki\u2019s re-election<\/strong> through the Youth for Kibaki<\/em> movement. With the birth of TNA, he became the youngest ruling party chairman<\/strong>, steering the ship that propelled Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto<\/strong> to power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His sharp political instincts, calm demeanor, and ability to work with all sides earned him a smooth ride into the Nairobi Senate seat, where he executed his oversight role with what many called military precision<\/em>. Even then, city residents whispered: \u201cThis one is a future governor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2022, he proved them right\u2014defeating a system-backed Polycarp Igathe<\/strong>, a feat many thought impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSakaja is always sober, non-antagonistic, and truly national. You can\u2019t pin him to tribe\u2014it\u2019s as if he sees everyone as a brother,\u201d said a city trader moved by his leadership style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the Sakaja Nairobi fell in love with\u2014and continues to trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When he took over from Governor Kananu and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Sakaja inherited a chaotic system. It felt as though devolution was arriving in Nairobi 10 years late<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But he rolled up his sleeves and began rebuilding the city\u2019s governance brick by brick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From dysfunctional fire engines and a demoralised workforce, disaster response has transformed dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFire engines are now strategically positioned across the boroughs, our teams are retrained and motivated, and Sakaja has modernised disaster management in ways we\u2019ve never seen,\u201d says Simiyu Bramwel, Chief Officer for Disaster Management<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike leaders who thrive on rhetoric, Sakaja has moved Nairobi towards real, visible action<\/strong>. With Nairobi hosting the majority of Kenya\u2019s youth, Sakaja created a full ministry dedicated to sports, youth, and talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnder Governor Sakaja, we\u2019re completing major stadium projects\u2014Woodley in Kibra, Kihumbuini in Westlands, and Makadara, all at over 90% completion,\u201d says Oscar Igaida, Chief Officer for Sports and Talent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sakaja understands the pain of attending school on an empty stomach\u2014he lived it. \u201cAt only 5 shillings, my children now eat in school,\u201d says Maggy, a parent from Dagoretti South<\/strong>. \u201cBefore this, if I had no money, they stayed home. Governor Sakaja saved us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This initiative has become a lifeline for thousands of children and single mothers across the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the just-concluded by-elections exposing fractures within the united opposition, anyone thinking of challenging Sakaja in 2027 should think twice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He is not just the governor\u2014he is a movement. A symbol of Nairobi\u2019s future. A leader whose calm, inclusive, and solution-oriented approach has elevated him above petty politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sakaja is well on his way to becoming the first Nairobi governor to successfully defend his seat<\/strong>\u2014a milestone neither Kidero, Sonko, nor Kananu achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" . Opinion | By Dennis Kombo Amid all the noise, confusion, and shifting alliances in Nairobi\u2019s political arena, one truth still stands tall: Johnson Arthur Sakaja is poised to beat his opponents\u2014hands down. Love him or hate him, call him whatever you wish, but the reality is simple: Sakaja remains the indisputable favourite for Nairobi\u2019s …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18735"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18747,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18735\/revisions\/18747"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A Political Prodigy From the Start<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Governor Who Leads Without Tribal Borders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Resetting Nairobi From Ground Zero<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Disaster Management: A Total Makeover<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inbound6268851093133815263-1024x577.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNairobi Must Work \u2014 And Under Sakaja, It Is<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
His Green Nairobi<\/em> brigade\u2014a youthful battalion keeping the city clean and glowing\u2014has become Nairobi\u2019s new pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChampioning Sports, Talent, and the Youth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inbound5888261879255159111-1024x683.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese stadiums will generate revenue and nurture talent. We even hosted international eSports events at Charter Hall\u2014something unheard of before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inbound5104658303061857450-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDishi na County: A Legacy in the Making<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
His flagship Dishi na County<\/strong> programme is transforming lives across Nairobi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/inbound3285512020928986407-1024x741.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Political Winds Don\u2019t Lie<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On Course for History<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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