Dear Governor Sakaja,
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard about the story of Emperor Caligula, the ruler of Rome from 37 AD to 41 AD. He was known for his hedonism and general love for sherehe. Centuries before yachts even became a thing, Caligula had “pleasure boats” equipped with booze, artwork, and the finest delicacies.
The emperor would spend days with women in these boats, enjoying himself while ignoring any urgent official matters that popped up. The massive boats — measuring between 230 and 240 feet — were stationed on Lake Nemi in Italy and even had a plumbing system for running water, despite the fact that Rome’s own sewage and sanitation system was quite a mess. It is alleged that Caligula spent at least 10 million denaril in each party, and that he ended up accidentally destroying these ships while drunk.
I bet you see where I am going with this. Caligula’s priorities were all wrong. Rome was crumbling, but he chose to focus on the wrong things. Anyone who tried to advise him was immediately punished. He even appointed his favorite horse as a consul and infamously stated, “I can make my horse a consul if I want. The highest prize in the Roman state, it’s entirely within my gift.” In the end, Caligula’s failure to listen to anyone proved to be his downfall.
I sincerely hope that you, Governor Sakaja don’t end up like Caligula, because I am rooting for you. I have nothing but respect for a man who was a party chairman by age 26 and an MP by age 29. At 26 I was still negotiating with girls about how much fare I should send, or whether I should send it at all. I had no idea what my future would look like. I admire the fact that you became a governor before you were even 40.
As much as people would love to label you a clueless leader, I doubt that this is the case because not any person can achieve what you have achieved. However, you need to take note of the criticism and change.
The decision to commission a nightclub at Uhuru Park has especially landed you in hot stop. This time, the people criticizing you are right. There are already way too many nightclubs in Nairobi, We don’t really need another. If you throw a stone right now, it’s likely to land on a Quiver somewhere. So, why do we need more? Why do we need more music studios if music isn’t even paying well in the first place? I partly understand why you are making these choices. You are a former musician, so you feel the need to invest in things you are passionate about. Sadly, the majority of the Nairobi populace doesn’t see it that way.
I hate seeing anyone falling from grace, especially people who have worked so hard to be where they are. So, unlike other people who are predicting doom for you, I will cross my fingers and pray for you, hoping you can improve.
It isn’t too late to make things right. You are only two years into your first time as a Governor, and if you go back to the drawing board, you can easily win the public’s favor again. You, as someone who has made so many great moves, early in his life, has what it takes to change the narrative. You just have to apply yourself.
As young people, we need strong leaders. Otherwise, people will start chanting the false “Youth are incompetent” slogan again. You need to do an extraordinary job, so that young people can be trusted with huge responsibilities again.
We are counting on you, Johnny Dimples
Sincerely,
Philip Etemesi (Just another Nairobi resident)
