Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is facing possible impeachment after Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) began collecting signatures to remove him from office. By Sunday evening, 70 signatures had already been secured out of the 123-member house.
The move follows a heated Speaker’s Kamkunji held on August 26, 2025, chaired by Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Ken Ngondi, where more than 90 MCAs expressed their frustration with the governor’s leadership. The meeting resulted in a resolution to initiate the impeachment process.
For the first time, MCAs affiliated with both the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have united in the push to oust Sakaja, following a meeting held at a private residence in Nairobi.
Key grievances include the failure to fulfil campaign promises, delays in disbursing bursaries, and the stalled Ward Development Fund. MCAs accused Sakaja of neglecting the needs of Nairobi residents and ignoring the priorities of the county’s wards.
South B MCA Chege Waithera confirmed the resolution, revealing that it was arrived at unanimously. She added that a growing number of legislators believe Sakaja has not only lost touch with Nairobians but also the trust of the Assembly.
“Sakaja has failed to deliver on the promises he made in 2022. We can no longer wait as residents continue to suffer,” Waithera said, vowing that the process would proceed with or without executive support.
“Today, Sunday, 31 August 2025, close to 70 signatures have been collected in a members’ initiated process to impeach Nairobi Governor, Johnson Arthur Sakaja,” Kileleshwa MCA, Robert Alai, also confirmed following the developments.
The Assembly, currently with 123 members following the recent death of Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve, requires at least 82 signatures to table an official motion of impeachment.
The move comes just days after Kericho Governor Eric Mutai narrowly survived impeachment in the Senate. Senators voted to acquit the governor with a decisive 26-16 margin.
What Next
According to the law, after MCAs collect the required signatures to impeach the governor, the next step is for one of them to table a formal notice of motion in the County Assembly. The law stipulates that at least one-third of all members must back the notice before it can proceed.
Once admitted, the motion is debated in the Assembly, where the governor’s conduct is scrutinised. For the impeachment to succeed at this stage, at least two-thirds of the MCAs must vote in favour of removing the county chief.
If the Assembly passes the motion, the Speaker is required to forward it to the Senate within two days. The Senate then convenes to consider the charges, either through a special committee or in plenary, with the governor allowed to mount a defence.
The process ends with a Senate vote. If a majority of senators uphold the impeachment, the governor is removed from office. However, if the Senate rejects the motion, the governor remains in office and cannot face another impeachment on the same grounds for three months.
