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Whipped to submission: Ruto, Raila save Sakaja as MCAs suspend impeachment bid
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.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja secured a political lifeline on Tuesday after President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga separately convinced Nairobi MCAs to suspend plans to impeach him, urging the county boss to put his house in order.
The deal followed parallel meetings — one convened by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) at State House and another by ODM at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation Center.
At the State House, President Ruto pleaded with MCAs to give him two months to address the grievances they had raised. According to those who attended, the President chaired the session and allowed them to air their concerns freely.
Governor Sakaja was not invited to the Tuesday meeting but is expected to attend a follow-up session at State House on Wednesday.
“We are meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) with the President and the governor so that in his presence, both sides can highlight the issues. From the concerns we raised, the President asked us to give him 60 days to address them,” said Nairobi South MCA Waithera Chege, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader.
Speaking after the meeting, Ms Chege clarified that the impeachment motion against Sakaja had only been suspended, not withdrawn.
“The impeachment still stands but we have agreed not to table it immediately. If the issues we raised are not addressed within 60 days, then we will proceed with the motion,” she said.
At the ODM meeting, Mr Odinga persuaded MCAs to give the governor more time. Makadara MP George Aladwa, who addressed the press after the three-hour session, said the decision was made in the interest of Nairobi residents.
“In our meeting, everyone was heard and we eventually agreed that the impeachment motion should be put aside to allow the governor to work,” said Mr Aladwa, the ODM Nairobi Branch Chairperson.
He added that Governor Sakaja had been given one month to resolve key issues including delayed bursary disbursement, corruption claims, stalled ward projects, the release of Ward Development Funds and the restoration of street lighting.
“No one was coerced into making this decision. The governor himself addressed us, admitted mistakes, and apologised to MCAs. We will review the matter again in one month. Our priority is a functional, drama-free Nairobi County,” Mr Aladwa said.
However, Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru (Mejja Donk) criticisd the move, accusing leaders of shielding incompetence.
“It is shameful when Nairobians are crying over poor services, yet the so-called handshake brothers spend eight hours discussing someone’s incompetence instead of addressing the residents’ real concerns,” Mr Gathiru said.
