The Deputy Governor’s Vanishing Act

Word on the Street: Why Njoroge Muchiri Has Gone AWOL

The corridors of City Hall are buzzing with whispers, and the question everyone’s asking is: Where exactly is Deputy Governor James Njoroge Muchiri?

For weeks now, keen observers of Nairobi’s political theater have noticed something peculiar.

While Governor Johnson Sakaja makes his rounds at public events, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and press conferences, his deputy has become increasingly scarce.

The once-visible banking executive turned politician seems to have mastered the art of the disappearing act.

Our little birds tell us that all is not well in paradise at City Hall.

Sources close to the county government suggest that Muchiri, the former Absa Bank Chief Operating Officer who was handpicked as Sakaja’s running mate in 2022, has grown increasingly uncomfortable with certain “arrangements” within the administration.

The grapevine has it that Muchiri, a man known for his corporate discipline and structured approach to governance, has found himself at odds with some of the more… shall we say, creative approaches to county business.

Word is that the deputy governor has been raising uncomfortable questions about procurement processes, budget allocations, and the general direction of the county’s financial affairs.

But here’s where it gets juicy.

The streets are talking about more than just policy disagreements.

Recent social media allegations by controversial blogger Maverick Aoko have thrown fuel on an already smoldering fire, suggesting personal complications that go beyond professional differences.

The claims involve alleged romantic entanglements and personal relationships that have reportedly created tension between the two leaders.

What we do know is that as recently as January 23, 2025, both leaders appeared together at a high-level county meeting, but those in the know say the body language spoke volumes.

The chemistry that once defined the Sakaja-Muchiri partnership appears to have evaporated faster than morning dew in the Nairobi sun.

The deputy governor’s calculated retreat from the limelight has left many wondering whether this is a strategic repositioning or damage control.

Some insiders suggest Muchiri is biding his time, focusing on his private practice and only making “technical appearances” when absolutely necessary – a move that could be interpreted as distancing himself from potential controversies.

Meanwhile, President Ruto was recently accompanied by Deputy Governor Muchiri during a city cleanup campaign, suggesting that despite the alleged tensions, Muchiri still maintains his official duties when it comes to high-profile national events.

The silence from both camps is deafening.

Neither Sakaja nor Muchiri has addressed the speculation directly, but in Nairobi’s political circles, silence often speaks louder than words.

The question remains: Is this a temporary storm that will pass, or are we witnessing the slow-motion breakdown of what was once considered one of the more stable governor-deputy partnerships in the country?

As the whispers grow louder and the deputy governor’s public appearances become rarer, only time will tell whether this is a strategic retreat or the beginning of a political divorce. But one thing is certain – in the theater of Nairobi politics, this drama is far from over.

The grapevine never lies… or does it?