Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
A ceasefire between Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Members of the County Assembly, brokered by President William Ruto on Wednesday night, led to the dismissal of two aides of the county boss and reassignment of a third.
The concessions halted an impeachment push against the governor by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Ward Representatives.
The closed-door meeting, which began at 3pm and stretched past 10pm, was marked by heated exchanges, accusations and breaks to cool tempers, according to multiple sources.
Two of Mr Sakaja’s aides who attempted to access the venue were stopped by the MCAs.
At the heart of the confrontation was the claim that Mr Sakaja had become inaccessible, shielded by aides who blocked consultations on major projects and reportedly intimidated critics.
Bursary forms
The MCAs demanded the dismissal of Chief of Staff David Njoroge, Finance Chief Officer Asha Abdi, Housing Chief Officer Lydia Mathia and Political Adviser Osman Khalif Abdi.
Governor Sakaja resisted, defending Mr Njoroge – his ally since his days in The National Alliance (TNA) in 2013.
Pressed, he agreed to a compromise: Mr Khalif and Ms Mathia would be dismissed and Ms Abdi would be moved to another docket.
Ms Mathia’s case was pending before the County Public Service Board after MCAs voted to remove her in June over the eviction of Woodley estate residents from county houses.
But the meeting then veered into party politics. Mr Sakaja accused some MCAs of secretly aligning with the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The MCAs shot back, branding the county boss an “Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) governor” despite being elected on a UDA ticket.
The shouting match disrupted the meeting until President Ruto intervened.
“He stood up and told them off. He said they were not at the County Assembly, and that party loyalty questions would be handled by the UDA Disciplinary Committee,” an MCA told the Daily Nation.
The MCAs also raised concerns about delays in releasing bursary money. The delays, they said, had exposed them to the “fury” of city residents.
Mr Sakaja cited unspecified “issues” with the Controller of Budget and did not commit to resolving the matter in 60 days as demanded by the Ward Representatives.
“Perhaps in November,” he reportedly told the meeting, adding that new bursary forms would be issued in January.
“That means we will not receive the previous bursaries,” Deputy Minority Leader Waithera Chege complained.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja (centre) leaves the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation Centre after a meeting with ODM Nairobi County Assembly members on September 2, 2025.
'Intimidation and harassment'
The MCAs accused Mr Sakaja of mobilising goons to intimidate critics, harass businesspeople and evict tenants from county houses. He denied the allegations.
On the Ward Development Fund, he pledged to clear pending bills and ensure equitable coverage of areas.
The two sides resolved that assembly funds must be released on time and that county executives engage MCAs regularly.
Each side will fund its expenses for meetings held outside Nairobi.
The meeting ended with the signing of an MoU. Under the deal, Mr Sakaja will meet Speaker Kennedy Ng’ondi weekly, the assembly leadership every month and the full assembly every three months.
Assembly Minority Leader Anthony Kiragu said they were giving the governor “the benefit of doubt.”
“The motion was not withdrawn—it still exists. If he fails to meet the demands we signed, we will proceed with impeachment,” Mr Kiragu warned.
Even as the deal was being sealed, a section of civil society leaders renewed calls for the dissolution of Nairobi County Government, accusing te county administration of presiding over a “looting machine” that has left the capital filthy, bankrupt and ungovernable.
On Thursday, city lawyers Harun Ndubi and Cyprian Nyamwamu declared Nairobi “a disaster zone,” citing garbage piles, clogged drainages and collapsing service delivery despite residents paying taxes.
“The citizens of Kenya shall unite to end the cruel looting of our Nairobi City and our country,” they vowed, promising to collect signatures across all 17 constituencies and 85 wards.
Call for dialogue
A group of Nairobi lawmakers urged Governor Sakaja and MCAs to resolve grievances through dialogue rather than plunging the capital into another impeachment battle.
MPs Maureen Tabitha Mutinda (nominated), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Antony Oluoch (Mathare), and Senator Karen Nyamu praised President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga for intervening to calm tensions.
“We now call upon the Governor and the MCAs to spend the next 60 days engaging in dialogue, addressing the issues raised, and working for the great people of the city. Governor, make it work,” Senator Mutinda said.
The MPs warned against repeating the chaos that followed former Governor Mike Sonko’s ouster, which left Nairobi under the short-lived Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).
