Members of Parliament allied to Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have welcomed the decision by Nairobi County Assembly members to freeze impeachment proceedings against Governor Johnson Sakaja, albeit with a warning.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, August 3, the MCAs, led by ODM Nairobi County Chairperson George Aladwa, Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi, and Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor (Jalang’o), commended the MCAs for opting for dialogue instead of confrontation, describing
“We cannot let our city be held ransom by politics and self-interests. If Nairobi is destabilised, Kenya is destabilised,” Elachi said in her statement on behalf of the MPs.
The leaders emphasised that since the capital was a key part of the country's gross GDP, threats to its leadership and governance must be weighed carefully.
On Sunday and Monday, ODM and UDA MCAs gathered over 70 signatures out of the 123-member house, with a bid to present an impeachment motion at the Nairobi County Assembly.
They required at least 82 signatures to table an official motion of impeachment against Sakaja.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, the MCAs went back on their initial resolve, instead giving Sakaja 60 days to 'get his house in order'.
In response, the lawmakers lauded the seizure of the impeachment proceedings as they affirmed their support of Sakaja's administration, citing several notable progresses across different sectors.
Besides the popular Dishi na County feeding programme, which currently provides hot meals to over 316,000 learners daily, the lawmakers cited improvements in waste management, including the handing over of permanent and pensionable Green Army jobs to 3,500 Nairobians.
The lawmakers also warned against the increasing trend of misuse of impeachment proceedings, warning MCAs against weaponising the law to send a message.
“Attempts for removal of elected Governors from office by impeachment have become a subject of abuse. We stress the importance of stability for service delivery and do not support the creation of instability where there are no serious grounds,” the statement went on.
Elsewhere, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei also weighed in on the botched impeachment proceedings, which he described as "a serious fluke and political blunder".
Cherargei, in his criticism on Wednesday, warned Nairobi MCAs that their indecision would undermine the integrity of the Nairobi County Assembly.
