'Haiwork': Waititu sets eyes on ousting Sakaja

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu 'Babayao'. [David Njaaga, Standard]

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu Babayao has now set his eyes on unseating Johnson Sakaja.  

Ever roving, Waititu is for the umpteenth time, shifting base in a bid to remain politically relevant.

“I have started laying the groundwork for the governor election bid. I’m reactivating my networks in both Nairobi and Kiambu where my supporters won’t disappoint me,” said Waititu.

He was optimistic that he would easily get the seat, saying he still enjoys huge following in Nairobi where he first plunged into politics as a councillor in 2002.

From a humble sand seller at Njiru shopping centre with little political ambitions, few people would have believed Waititu would one day become an MP, let alone a governor.

He has been a councillor, deputy mayor, Embakasi MP, Kikuyu MP and finally Kiambu governor before he was unceremoniously hounded out of office in January 2020 through impeachment.

Waititu says he wants to serve the people of Nairobi since Sakaja has failed them.

Although a court barred him from holding any public office due to graft charges facing him, Babayao maintains until his appeal in court is concluded, he is free to participate in elective politics.

“As long as my appeal is active in court, I am free to contest for any political seat in this country,” he said.

In locking Waititu from public office, Justice Ngenye Macharia ruled that elected leaders facing graft-related charges should not continue to hold office.

Through lawyer Tom Ojienda, Waititu appealed arguing that the High Court erred by finding that he should be out of office until the graft case filed against him was determined.

Even though the graft case hangs over his head like the Sword of Damocles, Waititu is optimistic he will overcome the tribulations which he links to political machinations engineered by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari, Testimony Enterprises, its directors and others, were in 2019 charged over the irregular award of Sh588 million tender in Kiambu County.

He has defended himself claiming the graft case was a scheme to throw him out of office due to his close association with then Deputy President William Ruto.

Waititu told The Nairobian he is not yet out of politics, and that Nairobi County is his next stop.

“I know Nairobi like the back of my hand, remember I almost trounced Kidero (Evans) who defeated me with very few votes,” he said.

He was referring the 2013 race for governor in Nairobi. When he declared his interest in the seat, many took him as a joker, terming him as an uncivilized politician accustomed to ghetto life where rule of law is alien.

As Embakasi MP, Waititu constantly had a brush with the police, alleged land grabbers and foreigners who he accused of fueling insecurity and denying his constituents employment opportunities.

He loved being captured while hurling stones at perceived land grabbers, instantly earning the nickname Babayao, which he added to his official name.

Vying on The National Alliance (TNA) ticket, the soft spoken politician garnered 617,839 votes against Kidero’s 692,483.

He briefly retreated back into private business before an opportunity presented itself in 2015 following the murder of Kabete MP George Muchai. Waititu contested in the subsequent by-election and won.

After being sworn into office, Waititu immediately declared war against then Kiambu Governor William Kabogo.

When the Jubilee Party nominations for the Kiambu Governor seat were held in 2017, Waititu defeated Kabogo despite being labelled “Wakahare” – a Gikuyu slang for outsider.

He got 353,604 votes against Kabogo’s 69,916, and went ahead to serve as governor for two years.

And having tasted the trappings of power, Waititu is scheming a comeback.

He has since severed links with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of President Ruto and is scouting for a suitable party he will use to contest in 2027.

“Definitely it won’t be UDA, and neither am I a member of Azimio. I will announce my preferred party at the right time,” he said.

Dismissing the urge for power as the motivation for his bid, Waititu says the desire to streamline the capital city is driving him to contest for the governor seat.

“Sakaja has failed to deliver on promises he made and people are complaining about his malfunctioning leadership. Some of them have been approaching me to take over and restore the city’s lost glory,” he said.

There have been complains about the slow transformation pace of the city whose roads remain pathetic, public transport is in chaos and garbage an eyesore.

During campaigns, Sakaja through his “Let’s make Nairobi work” clarion call, promised to fix these problems.

“Though some people don’t take me seriously, I hold the solution to the city’s problems. When the right time comes, I will officially declare my interest in the governor seat. I am sure I will get a lot of backing from my supporters,” says Waititu.