Maalim addressed the sensitive debate surrounding urban migration and regional interests by firmly rejecting the notion that the capital city belonged to any specific ethnic community.
His statements served as a direct response to previous assertions made by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua concerning the influence and stakes of particular groups in the city’s leadership.
The confrontation intensified when Maalim suggested that if a policy required all citizens to return to their ancestral counties, the Deputy President should be the first to comply.
He noted that Gachagua would need to relocate to Nyeri County before such a standard could be applied to other Kenyans living in the city.
This exchange brought to the forefront a long standing tension in Kenyan politics where the role of Nairobi as a neutral, cosmopolitan hub often conflicts with localized political agendas.
Maalim asserted that Nairobi functioned as the administrative and economic center for the entire nation rather than a tribal capital.
He argued that the city derived its strength from its diversity and its constitutional role as a shared space for all forty-seven counties.
The Deputy Governor made these remarks during a period when political discourse regarding government ownership had triggered concerns about marginalization among leaders from northern and western regions.
By pointing specifically to the Deputy President’s roots in Nyeri, Maalim shifted the narrative from abstract policy to personal leadership.
The shift underscored a growing pushback from county officials against what they perceived as an attempt to ethnically categorize the capital.
This development transformed a routine political disagreement into a broader national conversation about the constitutional right of every Kenyan to reside and conduct business in any part of the country.
The interaction reflected a significant departure from the usual diplomatic relations between the national executive and county governments.
It also highlighted deep seated sensitivities regarding representation and economic belonging in the city.
As the debate spread through public spheres, it confirmed that the status of Nairobi remained a critical touchstone for national unity and a point of resistance against exclusionary politics.
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