Nairobi MCAs suspend Sakaja impeachment push after Ruto, Raila talks

The principals of the broad-based government on Tuesday held separate meetings to save Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja from a looming impeachment push by ward representatives.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ward representatives put the plan to impeach Governor Sakaja on hold for 30 days following the intervention of party leader Raila Odinga.

At State House, Nairobi, President William Ruto secured more wiggle room for the beleaguered governor by persuading UDA MCAs to work with him. The MCAs had expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of key issues in the capital.

After day-long consultations chaired separately by President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, the Nairobi MCAs dropped the impeachment motion against Governor Sakaja.

“Tumefanya mkutano na MCAs wa Azimio na tumekubaliana hiyo impeachment motion itupiliwe mbali ili viongozi wa Nairobi wakae chini wafanye kazi pamoja kwa wananchi wa Nairobi...,” said George Aladwa, the ODM Party Chairperson for Nairobi.

Nairobi MCAs presented their concerns, which they said were sufficient to impeach Sakaja. The ward representatives, who had already secured enough signatures, accused the governor of sidelining them and implementing development projects without consultation.

The MCAs questioned how the Ward Development Fund had been utilised, as well as the criteria used to select projects and award bursaries in the county.

The Nairobi governor, who was present at both meetings, pledged to involve the county assembly through consultations in running county affairs.

Governor Sakaja said each ward in Nairobi had received its fair share of the fund, with a total of Ksh.715.8 million worth of development projects in the 2022/2023 financial year, Ksh.925.6 million in the 2023/2024 financial year, while Ksh.889 million was set aside as Ward Development Funds in the 2024/2025 financial year.

On the issue of bursary allocations, Sakaja told the tense meetings that his administration had allocated Ksh.1 billion for more than 119,000 students in the 2022/2023 financial year, but the Controller of Budget suspended the issuance of bursary funds by governors last year.

“Tumesema kama viongozi wa ODM tumepatia Sakaja mwezi mmoja akae chini na MCAs waelewane vile watafanya kazi,” said Aladwa.

At State House, Nairobi, President Ruto, while meeting UDA MCAs, cautioned them against pursuing the ouster motion, saying it would distract from the delivery of services to the city.

President Ruto urged the Nairobi leadership to embrace more consultations as they carry out their mandate.