Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and lawyer Ndegwa Njiru have faced off on X over impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Njiru is one of the advocates representing the DP in the trial at the Senate, which was on Thursday holding the final trial session before the Senate vote to either impeach or exonerate Gachagua.
Sakaja had been listed as a key witness for the National Assembly which voted on October 8 to impeach the DP.
However, reports indicated late Wednesday that the governor had left the country and would not appear before the House.
In a tweet, Njiru insinuated that the governor had developed cold feet.
“Sakaja ran away to Mexico. Feared the trial,” Njiru said.
In response, Sakaja challenged the advocate to rephrase his statement.
“Rephrase your statement starting with letter,” he said.
Sakaja neither denied nor confirmed claims that he had withdrawn as a witness in the trial hearing against the DP.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Njiru had expressed eagerness to cross-examine the governor during the trial.
Sakaja was expected to give evidence regarding an accusation that Gachagua undermined devolution by allegedly inciting traders at Wakulima market to disobey a directive to be relocated to a new location on Outering Road.
“Sakaja turaukiane kesho huko Senate ndugu (Sakaja let’s meet early morning in Senate tomorrow),” Njiru’s tweet Wednesday evening read.
“I am eagerly waiting to Cross-Examine Sakaja,” he added in a different tweet.
A total of 281 members of the National Assembly on Tuesday last week voted to impeach Gachagua. Only 44 MPs voted to save him.
The DP was on Thursday expected to give his evidence in chief but his lead counsel Paul Muite informed the House that he had information that his client had been taken ill.
Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi suspended hearings following the development until 5 pm.
“Hon senators we are facing a very unprecedented situation,” the speaker started.
He told the House that the DP was to take his stand at 2.30 pm but that was no longer to be as he, according to Muite, had been hospitalised.
Kingi said Gachagua’s lead counsel requested that he appear at a later time.
“Having considered the two sides, my directions are as follows; that we will suspend this sitting and resume at exactly 5 pm. We expect the Deputy President then to take the witness stand at 5 pm,” he said.
