Nairobi politics has once again shown its unpredictable nature after the failed attempt to impeach Governor Johnson Sakaja.
The move had gained momentum with both UDA and ODM MCAs joining hands to collect more than 70 signatures out of the 123-member assembly.
They required 82 signatures to table the formal motion but fell short. The impeachment effort exposed not only discontent within the county assembly but also the rifts between the governor and the ward representatives who accused him of poor service delivery.
One of the major issues raised against the governor was the delay in bursary distribution. Sakaja admitted that there had been a hitch but explained that it was largely because of a ban on bursary allocations that was outside his control.
He further defended his record by pointing out that under his leadership, Nairobi had already distributed Ksh1.6 billion in bursaries compared to Ksh3 billion that had been released by his predecessors over a longer period.
According to him, this proved his administration was not idle. He also accused MCAs of misrepresenting facts, arguing that the slow release of funds for ward projects was linked to delayed disbursements from the national government and not negligence from his office.
As the standoff grew, high-level political interventions shifted the course of events. Raila Odinga, the ODM leader, stepped in to cool tempers within his party. On September 2, he hosted a closed-door meeting with Sakaja and ODM MCAs at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation. Sources confirmed that Raila convinced the MCAs to suspend the impeachment move, urging dialogue instead of confrontation.
Nairobi ODM chairman George Aladwa later confirmed that Sakaja admitted to the accusations and even issued an apology. The ODM MCAs agreed to give him one month to mend relations and address their concerns.
Raila’s involvement underscored his strong influence in Nairobi politics and revealed ODM’s strategy to avoid a messy fight that could destabilize the county.
On the other side, President William Ruto also played a decisive role. He summoned UDA MCAs to State House where he cautioned them against fueling impeachment politics.
He insisted that focus should remain on development and reminded them that removing Sakaja would hurt UDA’s image in Nairobi, a key political battleground.
This intervention weakened the impeachment push further and made it clear that top party leadership was not ready to gamble with instability.
By the time both Raila and Ruto had weighed in, the impeachment momentum had collapsed. What seemed like a serious threat to Sakaja turned into an aborted plan that left him politically stronger.
The governor has since gone on the offensive, dismissing the move as a political show meant to derail his administration. In a recent interview, he said the failed attempt was a lesson to his opponents and accused them of playing politics instead of prioritizing service delivery.
Despite his survival, the underlying issues remain unresolved. The grievances over bursaries and stalled ward projects are still alive, and MCAs are watching closely.
The failed impeachment may have bought Sakaja time, but it also revealed deep cracks in Nairobi’s leadership. The governor now faces the challenge of mending ties while proving that his administration can deliver.
The political weight of Raila and Ruto may have saved him for now, but the tension between Sakaja and the county assembly shows that the battle for control of Nairobi’s resources and promises is far from over.
