Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja of avoiding his calls and being an absentee governor.

Speaking on the Mic Cheque podcast, Sifuna stated that he has never been friends with Sakaja, which has resulted in a strained relationship between them. He accused Sakaja of deception, claiming he frequently uses gimmicks to mislead the public. 

PHOTO | COURTESY  Senator Edwin Sifuna

"The problem I have with him is that he thrives in a lot of PR (public relations). If you sit with him he makes very many empty problems. You see if someone did their job... we don't have to be friends. We can be cordial. When I call him he doesn't pick my calls yet I'm his Senator," Sifuna said.

"As a Senator I shouldn't be addressing the Governor through the media or the floor of the house (Parliament), but he is also inaccessible. Also, we summon him to house committees and he refuses to show up," Sifuna added.

He used Sakaja's example: He was scheduled to appear before the Energy Committee investigating the Embakasi gas explosion but did not show up.

PHOTO | COURTESY  Senator Edwin Sifuna and Sakaja

Instead, the governor informed the committee that he would be attending the burial of Embakasi Central MP Mejja Donk's father.

"The CS Energy came, NEMA came and everyone summoned came. But the Governor said he was attending the burial. I also attended the burial but that was after I attended the committee sitting. So the governor has contempt for the Senate and the committees," Sifuna further accused Sakaja.