Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has received a rare show of support from a section of leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, even as Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) push forward with plans to impeach him.
Among those defending the embattled county boss is former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera, who also serves as the Nairobi Patron of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), a political outfit associated with Gachagua.
Nyakera, who is among those seeking to unseat Sakaja, stated on Monday that while he stood to gain politically if Sakaja were ousted, he could not support the impeachment bid, arguing that Nairobians had freely elected Sakaja in 2022.
He stressed that democracy should be respected, even when leadership proves challenging, and urged the governor to shift his focus from public relations to tangible service delivery.
“While I would naturally stand to benefit if Governor Sakaja were impeached, I do not support it. Nairobians freely chose him in 2022, and democracy demands that we respect that choice, even when it proves difficult. I urge Sakaja to drop the PR and theatrics and use his remaining two years to deliver on the promises he made,” Nyakera said.
He also directed a message to Nairobi residents, cautioning them to be more discerning when casting their ballots in future elections.
“To Nairobians: let this be a lesson ahead of 2027 – leadership is about proven ability, integrity, and accountability. Let’s choose better in 2027,” he added.
Nyakera Eyeing Nairobi Governorship
Nyakera, who also served as the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in June, signalled his intention to vie for the top seat in Nairobi in the 2027 General Election.
While defending his decision to ditch his own political outfit, the Farmers Party, to join DCP, he said that it was a strategic move to focus on Nairobi County politics.
Sakaja Impeachment
On Sunday, Governor Johnson Sakaja’s bid to complete his first term at City Hall suffered a major setback after Nairobi MCAs launched a formal push to impeach him. By evening, at least 70 signatures had been collected out of the 123 members to table the motion.
For the first time, ward representatives from both the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) closed ranks against the governor, marking a rare bipartisan alliance. The MCAs met at a private residence in Nairobi, where they resolved to initiate the process to remove him from office.
Those pushing for the ouster cited multiple grievances, top among them Sakaja’s alleged failure to deliver on his 2022 campaign pledges. They accused him of sidelining the wards in county decision-making and ignoring priority projects that directly impact residents.
Delayed bursary allocations and the stalling of the Ward Development Fund also featured in the accusations.
