The tenure of Nairobi City County Governor Johnson Sakaja is under threat after a faction of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) initiated plans to impeach him, citing alleged incompetence.
This followed a Speaker's Kamkunji chaired by Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Ken Ngondi on Tuesday, 26 August, during which frustrated MCAs expressed dissatisfaction with the governor's performance.
The MCAs accused Sakaja of neglecting the needs of Nairobi residents and of breaking promises made during his election campaign in 2022.
Following Tuesday's meeting, the MCAs decided to formalise the impeachment process at a retreat scheduled for Naivasha on Tuesday, September 2.
During the meeting, the assembly leadership is expected to begin collecting signatures in support of the motion to remove Sakaja from office.
South B MCA Chege Waithera confirmed the decision for MCAs to pursue impeachment proceedings, saying it was made unanimously with bipartisan support from both the Orange Democratic Movement and UDA-affiliated members.
Waithera claimed a majority of MCAs were of the opinion that Sakaja had not only 'lost touch with the needs of Nairobians', he had also lost the confidence of the house.
“There are so many stalled projects within the wards, and residents are constantly asking why they haven’t been completed,” Waithera said.
The MCA also accused Sakaja's administration of failing to meet the most basic service delivery expectations. Further, from the meeting, the legislators claimed the governor enjoyed the support of less than a quarter of the county's assembly - an indication of his weakening position.
“Signature collection will start very soon, and all members are coordinated. We had about 96 members attend the Kamkunji, which is well above the required threshold,” Waithera said, in sentiments which were echoed by Nairobi CBD MCA Mwaniki Kwenya.
Kwenya particularly took issue with Sakaja over his newfound relationship with sections of leaders attached to ODM, which recently signed an MoU with the Kenya Kwanza government.
Sakaja becomes the latest governor to face a potential impeachment after his Kericho counterpart Eric Mutai, whose ouster is in its advanced stages.
Mutai is set to face a full trial before the Senate plenary after attempts to form a special committee collapsed on Wednesday, August 20.
