Sakaja: Misinformation making Nairobians misjudge my efforts to fix the city
By Paulette Mboga, October 8, 2025Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has said many residents misunderstand his work due to misinformation about his intentions and the projects his administration is undertaking in the city.
He said on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, his goal has always been to make Nairobi better, but false information often clouds how people view his efforts.
Also watch: Sakaja explains reasons for business tents ban in Nairobi CBD
Sakaja explained that some Nairobi residents misjudge his leadership and assume that the county government is not genuine about solving the problems facing the capital. “I think it is because of misinformation. They misunderstand a lot of what we are trying to do, our intentions, and how genuine we are about sorting out the city,” he said.
The governor added that running a city as complex as Nairobi comes with many challenges, especially when the public does not have the full picture of ongoing plans or why certain decisions must be made.
Describes Nairobi as Gen Z
When asked how he would describe Nairobi if it were a person, Sakaja compared the city to a Gen Z — defiant, full of energy, and resilient. “Very defiant, yet strong, full of character, never dying and resilient. That is Nairobi,” he said.
He explained that despite the criticism and the struggles the city faces, Nairobi always finds a way to stand tall and move forward. According to him, this spirit reflects the determination of the people who live and work in Kenya’s capital.
Sakaja also shared some of the most difficult moments of his time as governor. He said the toughest decision he has ever had to make is removing people from houses for failing to pay rent. “That is the toughest, but we have to make that decision,” he said.
Also watch: Sakaja orders crackdown on reckless boda boda riders in Nairobi
The governor added that such actions are painful but necessary to maintain order and fairness in county housing programs.
What keeps Sakaja awake at night, he said, are the children of Nairobi. He worries about the poor living conditions of many families and the number of children who go to bed hungry.
He said this is why the school feeding program remains one of the closest initiatives to his heart, as it tries to ensure that no child in Nairobi goes to school on an empty stomach.