Awkward Live TV Moment: Sakaja’s Call on Flood Crisis Is Cut Short During Citizen TV’s News Gang Debate

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja surprised viewers when he phoned into a live discussion on Citizen TV to respond to criticism about the flooding crisis in the capital. The call happened during the News Gang show, where senior journalists were analysing the recent disaster that has claimed dozens of lives in Nairobi.

The governor joined the programme as the panel discussed the rising number of deaths and damage caused by floods across several neighbourhoods. Many residents have blamed poor drainage systems and slow response by authorities. Sakaja called in to defend his administration and explain the actions his government has taken since the heavy rains began.

During the conversation, the county boss insisted that Nairobi’s flooding problem is not new. He argued that the challenge has existed for many years and cannot be fixed in a short time. “Nairobi was built on a swamp. A 100-year problem cannot be solved in three years,” Sakaja told the panel.

He said the city needs long-term investment and cooperation between the county government and the national government. According to him, the two levels of government are already working together to address drainage issues and improve infrastructure in the city. Sakaja added that solving the crisis requires resources and support from different stakeholders.

The governor also spoke about emergency response during the recent floods. He said thousands of county workers were deployed to assist residents who were trapped by rising water. “4,500 Green Army were deployed. We also had our fire team out there and we rescued very many people,” he said. He maintained that the rescue efforts helped save many lives.

However, the discussion did not last long. At one point, Sakaja’s voice became difficult to understand. His speech sounded unclear and the audio connection appeared unstable. The journalists struggled to continue asking questions.

Veteran journalist Linus Kaikai eventually stepped in and ended the call. “Governor, I think we have to end there,” he said, explaining that the show’s format could not continue in that manner.

The moment quickly caught the attention of viewers. Soon after the broadcast, many Kenyans flooded social media with reactions, with some expressing concern while others criticised the governor’s performance during the call.