An attempt to commence proceedings to impeach Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was thwarted on Wednesday when the majority side in the County Assembly, Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party, declined to support the motion.
Mr Sakaja, who was elected on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket in the 2022 election, is facing yet another ouster attempt, but from members of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, including the UDA, to which he belongs.
While the governor appears to have a close working relationship with the top leadership of the UDA, and has announced his intention to defend his seat in 2027, it is the opposition Azimio that scuttled the attempt. It was the third impeachment attempt since coming to power in 2022.
The Nairobi County Assembly at a past sitting. Nairobi MCAs are probing a Sh10 billion legal fees scandal.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Azimio’s decision came after holding a housekeeping meeting at the County Assembly premises. They emerged from the meeting to state that the quest to impeach the governor had come at the wrong time, as they had just approved a Sh80 billion Cooperation Agreement between the county and the national government.
They claimed that attempting to remove Mr Sakaja from office went against the spirit of a broad-based government. Ironically, the Azimio MCA do not belong to the government side.
“We remain guided by the last clear instruction from Baba that we allow Johnson Sakaja, the Governor of Nairobi City County, to complete his mandate. We are therefore unequivocally opposed to any attempts to impeach the governor at this critical time, particularly when the city stands at the threshold of historic development under the Cooperation Agreement,” Peter Imwatok, who is the Majority Leader in the County Assembly said while addressing the media.
Mr Imwatok stated that while the governor was elected on a UDA ticket, his goodwill and willingness to work collaboratively in advancing the Azimio dream for an inclusive, prosperous, and well-governed Nairobi is what won their hearts.
“In that spirit, we shall fully support him to ensure stability and continuity in leadership for the benefit of our people.”
“We firmly reject any attempts to create unnecessary noise, interfere with the leadership of the City, or destabilise the prevailing tranquility. Our priority remains the fulfillment of the aspirations of the broad-based government and the socio-economic advancement of Nairobi.”
While the same Azimio MCAs supported the previous attempt to impeach the governor, they said that they changed their minds this time following the late ODM leader Raila Odinga's advice, who asked them to allow the governor to work.
Kitisuru MCA Alvin Olando admitted that the county has unresolved issues that need the attention of the governor. He said that Azimio acknowledged the challenges facing the residents but questioned the timing of the impeachment.
“The governor is left with one year in office, I don’t see why we should impeach him now. I was in support of the last impeachment attempt but I have decided to avoid any form of conflict now. We need peach in Nairobi now,” Mr Olando said.
Waithera Chege, who is the Minority Whip and Nairobi South MCA who has been vocal in seeking to remove Mr Sakaja from office, claimed that the office of the Speaker and the Clerk were sabotaging the impeachment process by delaying approval of the motion.
She maintained that they have collected enough signatures needed by the law to impeach the governor and that it is just a matter of approval before the motion is tabled.
“The law has made it mandatory for a speaker to call for a special sitting and he should expedite the issue of impeachment motion. We are ready with our instruments, what is he (speaker) afraid of? He is not a voter but just a referee,” Ms Chege said.
Ms Chege challenged Azimio MCAs to allow the motion to be tabled before the assembly, remarks that were echoed by Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai.
Kileleshwa Ward Representative Robert Alai.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“I have seen them claiming that they have the numbers. If you have the numbers, why are you not allowing this motion to come to the assembly? That’s the only place where you can test the numbers,” Mr Alai said, alleging that the clerk and the speaker went into hiding in order to avoid approving the motion.
He claimed that some of the Azimio MCAs had received threats that they would be de-whipped from committees if they supported the motion.
In response to allegations that he was delaying the process, Edward Gichana, the Clerk of the County Assembly, dismissed speculation that his absence was intentional. He explained that he was in the office in the morning before leaving for a series of appointments.
Mr Gichana confirmed that his office would approve the motion as soon as he receives it, if it meets the legal threshold.
“That is not true. There are a lot of meetings that I’m being called to attend by my boss. How would you sabotage something that you have not received? Let them bring it, our work is to process it. I’m more than ready to approve it once they bring it. This is not the first impeachment for us,” Mr Gichana said.
