Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has been granted a reprieve from a looming impeachment after top-level interventions from both President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga successfully de-escalated a political crisis in the county assembly.
The threat of impeachment, which had been rapidly gaining momentum, was officially put on hold on Tuesday following a series of closed-door meetings aimed at fostering reconciliation between the governor and dissatisfied Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
The resolution came after a nearly four-hour meeting at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF), where Raila Odinga met with Sakaja and ODM-allied MCAs. Concurrently, President Ruto convened a separate meeting with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MCAs at State House, Nairobi, where he similarly advised against the impeachment push.
Nairobi County ODM Chairperson and Makadara MP George Aladwa confirmed the developments, stating that the MCAs had agreed to suspend their impeachment efforts for 30 days. This window will allow Governor Sakaja time to address widespread concerns about his leadership and mend fractured relationships with the county assembly.
“We have resolved that the concerns raised will be addressed within one month. This is to allow the governor time to concentrate on delivering services to the people of Nairobi,” Aladwa told reporters, emphasizing that the decision was made to avoid unnecessary political battles and promote unity for the benefit of city residents.
The impeachment motion had garnered significant support, with MCAs from both ODM and UDA parties collecting over 70 signatures from the 123-member assembly—just short of the 82 required to formally table the motion. Key grievances included the governor’s failure to fulfil campaign promises, persistent delays in bursary disbursements, and the stalled Ward Development Fund. MCAs also accused Sakaja of neglecting the needs of Nairobi residents and ignoring the priorities of local wards.
Notably, Aladwa revealed that during the meeting, Governor Sakaja acknowledged all the accusations levelled against him and offered an apology to the assembly members. “We have deliberated for nearly four hours, and the MCAs have raised all their concerns. Nairobi leadership, as well as the party, has also resolved to drop the impending impeachment to allow us to correct the wrong,” Aladwa said.
The temporary truce highlights the influential role of national political leaders in managing intra-coalition disputes within county governments. It also underscores the ongoing challenges facing Nairobi’s administration, which has been plagued by political instability and governance issues for years.
All eyes will now be on Governor Sakaja to see how he utilizes this one-month grace period to address the assembly’s concerns and demonstrate a renewed commitment to serving the residents of Kenya’s capital city.
