BY WINDE GANJAO
He Failed to Join Harvard Over Fees, And Worked at a Cyber – Story of Johnson Sakaja
At only 27 years of age, young Johnson SAKAJA became the National Chairman of the National Alliance (TNA) – a position he held until September 9, 2016.
It is not every day that you will find a twenty-something year old leading old men and women with winter-white hair and blood-flecked eyes.
I have met Johnson SAKAJA just once – at a famous restaurant in Nairobi’s restaurant.
That was back in 2016 – or thereabout.
I could see right away that the young man was a magnet – attracting a cocktail brilliant minds, a few girls, and other hangers-on that come with being a Kenyan politician.
This kind of attention is expected especially for a man who joined President Mwai Kibaki election team in 2007 – taking a leading role in the Presidential Secretariat team.
At only 22 years of age – an age when most young men and women are just beginning to identify themselves – Sakaja was busy addressing President Kibaki’s Cabinet.
His achievement so far – which includes being elected Nairobi Senator – serving as nominated MP – and now reportedly eying Nairobi Gubernatorial seat in 2022 may not have come to fruition had his parents paid his school fees to join Harvard after graduating from University of Nairobi (UoN).
SAKAJA failed to raise the fees to join Harvard University despite passing the entry exams – having just graduated from UoN with a degree in Actuarial Science.
He would later join PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited (PwC) for one year – before losing his job.
He later worked at a cyber cafe owned by his aunt – which is how he ended up falling in love with music – specifically rap music.
And so – when news broke on February 1, 2022, that Sakaja had fought over a microphone with fellow Nairobi governor aspirant Bishop Margaret Wanjiru – not many were surprised as the Senator help firmly to the microphone refusing to let go.
Wanjiru who is seeking the Governor’s seat under the UDA ticket accused Senator Sakaja of inciting the crowd against her.
“I deserve respect, we are both leaders here in Nairobi,” Wanjiru said as she confronted Sakaja.
In reply, Sakaja who once won a national public speaking contest while still a student at Lenana High School said: “Everyone has a right to be listened to, please let’s stop this.”
He dismissed Wanjiru’s claims and asked the crowd to give everybody an opportunity to speak.
The rally was attended by United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Amani National Coalition (ANC) and Ford Kenya leaders.