Nairobi has recently witnessed intense political drama involving Governor Johnson Sakaja. On August 26, members of the Nairobi County Assembly moved to push for his removal, citing failure to deliver on key promises made during his 2022 campaign. MCAs accused Sakaja of neglecting ward-level projects and ignoring persistent city problems such as poor roads, inadequate lighting, and stalled development in many neighborhoods.
Over 90 assembly members signed the motion, calling the governor incompetent and arrogant in handling county affairs.
A special sitting was convened to discuss the impeachment, raising hopes among residents that accountability could finally reach the top leadership of the city.
The push for impeachment reflected growing frustration among Nairobians, particularly in areas like Mathare and Kilimani, where residents have long complained about poor service delivery and mismanaged funds.
MCAs echoed these concerns, emphasizing that Sakaja seemed disconnected from the everyday struggles of the city’s people. Reports indicated that plans for the next steps in the impeachment process were discussed during a retreat in Naivasha, suggesting the motion could advance to a full hearing.
However, the process appeared to take an unexpected turn. Maverick Aoko has alleged that the impeachment effort collapsed following a secret meeting at Raila Odinga’s Karen residence.
According to Aoko, Raila, agreed to a deal worth 400 million Kenyan shillings to halt the proceedings. The meeting was reportedly led by veteran politician Fred Gumo, with Nairobi Speaker Ken Ng’ondi, Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto, and a representative from Mathare, Odalo, named as key figures allegedly betraying Nairobi’s interests.
Aoko described them as sellouts and suggested she could provide more details and contacts for those seeking verification.
This raises serious concerns about how political accountability operates in Nairobi. Sakaja, already criticized for failing to fix city problems, appears to have avoided scrutiny by allegedly using funds to secure protection.
Raila’s alleged involvement paints a troubling picture of prioritizing personal or political gain over public service. The allegations underscore broader governance challenges in Kenya, where impeachment motions often falter amid alleged bribery and political maneuvering.
