A Nairobi resident has tabled a petition to the Nairobi County Assembly seeking to initiate the impeachment process against Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
In the petition, the resident has accused the county chief of gross violation of the constitution and national laws, abuse of office, and violation of the rights of Nairobi residents.
The petitioner has further accused Sakaja of illegally deploying county officers to evict tenants from county-managed estates, in addition to fraudulent misrepresentation of the rent arrears of property owners in the city.
According to the petitioner, the county assembly should admit the petition and initiate an impeachment proceeding in accordance with Standing Order 68. According to the petitioner, Sakaja's removal will bring accountability back to the county government.
Furthermore, the petitioner has urged the county assembly to engineer a committee that will kickstart the investigations of the allegations and later table a motion of impeachment against Sakaja if the allegations are found to be substantial.
The petitioner claims that he has evidence, including affidavits from victims of unlawful evictions, videos, and photos of goon attacks, which he claims were sent by the governor to conduct the evictions, and rent statements proving arrears misrepresentation, which he is willing to provide to aid in the investigations.
"We, the undersigned residents of Nairobi County, acting under Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) (right to petition) and Section 15 of the County Governments Act, hereby formally petition the County Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Arthur Johnson Sakaja," part of the petition read.
"Governor Sakaja’s actions constitute gross misconduct, abuse of office, and wilful violation of the Constitution. He has betrayed the trust of Nairobians and must be held accountable. We urge all Honourable MCAs to uphold their oath under Article 74(2) and act in defence of our Constitution," it added.
In the past week, Sakaja has been under heavy scrutiny, especially after he was linked with goons who disrupted protests at the country's capital on Tuesday, June 17.
However, in a statement on Sunday, June 22, Sakaja distanced himself from the allegation, claiming that he has never in his political career sabotaged any kind of protests through goons.
While stressing the need for protestors to conduct peaceful protests, which are set to take place on Wednesday, June 25, Sakaja claimed that he had contacted the regional commander of the National Police Service (NPS) to ensure the demonstrators are well protected.
"I urge all Kenyans and the people of Nairobi to reject violence and criminal behaviour as they take to the streets this coming week," Sakaja said.
"I have spoken to the commander of the police to ensure that peaceful demonstrators will be protected as they express their rights, and that must be done within the confines of the law, as enshrined in the constitution," he added.
