Nairobi Governor Sakaja Faces Over 20 Impeachment Charges as MCAs Intensify Efforts

A political crisis is escalating in Nairobi as Governor Johnson Sakaja and his deputy, James Muchiri Njoroge, face a robust impeachment push led by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs). In a significant development, over 90 of the 123 MCAs convened on August 26, 2025, in a heated informal meeting, known as a "Speaker’s Kamkunji," chaired by Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Ken Ng’ondi. The meeting, attended by key figures including Majority Leader Peter Imwatok, Minority Whip Mark Mugambi, and Deputy Minority Leader Waithera Chege, resulted in a resolution to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, citing over 20 charges related to incompetence, neglect, and mismanagement.

The MCAs have outlined a litany of grievances, accusing Governor Sakaja of being out of touch with Nairobi’s residents and failing to deliver on key campaign promises made during his 2022 election. Among the primary charges are:

1. Stalled Ward Projects: The MCAs claim that numerous development projects at the ward level have been stalled for nearly three years, leaving residents frustrated and questioning the county’s priorities. Deputy Minority Leader Waithera Chege emphasized, "There are so many projects that have not been completed, and residents are constantly asking why."

2. Failure to Disburse Bursaries and Ward Development Funds: The governor has been accused of delaying or failing to disburse bursaries and Ward Development Fund allocations, critical for supporting education and local development. "The bursary delays are unacceptable when the county collects significant revenue daily," said Korogocho MCA Absalom Odhiambo.

3. Communication Breakdown: MCAs, including Nairobi South representative Waithera Chege, have accused Sakaja of being inaccessible, stating that three-quarters of the members cannot reach him. This has led to a severe communication gap between the executive and the assembly, hindering effective governance.

4. Neglect of County Resolutions: The MCAs allege that Sakaja has disregarded approved county budgets and development plans, implementing projects without consulting ward representatives. Baba Dogo MCA Geoffrey Majiwa stated, "The governor runs the county like his personal property, changing projects without our input."

5. Alleged Misconduct and Abuse of Office: A petition filed in July 2025 by former Korogocho MCA Maxwell Achar accused Sakaja of gross misconduct, including sponsoring goons to disrupt Gen Z demonstrations and engaging in unlawful evictions of county tenants without court orders, violating housing rights under Article 43 of the Constitution.

6. Incompetence and Financial Mismanagement: A December 2024 report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o revealed that Nairobi County, under Sakaja’s leadership, spent zero shillings on development from July to October 2024, despite collecting significant revenue. MCAs have cited this as evidence of financial impropriety and mismanagement.

7. Undermining Elected Leaders: Nairobi CBD MCA Mwaniki Kwenya accused Sakaja of collaborating with political rivals of sitting MCAs ahead of the 2027 elections, undermining their authority and development efforts. "How can the governor work with our opponents when he’s supposed to coordinate with us?" Kwenya questioned.

8. Failure to Address City Challenges: The MCAs have criticized Sakaja for neglecting critical issues such as garbage collection, insecurity, chaotic transport, and collapsed public services, which have worsened under his administration.

By Sunday, August 31, 2025, the MCAs had collected 70 signatures, surpassing the required threshold of 41 to table an impeachment motion. Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai confirmed the progress, stating, "Close to 70 signatures have been collected in a member-initiated process to impeach Governor Johnson Arthur Sakaja." The signatures were gathered during a meeting at a private residence in Westlands, Nairobi, where the impeachment motion is being drafted.

The MCAs, representing both the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), have united in this effort, marking a rare bipartisan push. South B MCA Waithera Chege emphasized the unity, saying, "This is a member-driven initiative, not dictated by party leadership. We are resolute and will not turn back." The assembly plans to request Speaker Ng’ondi to convene a special sitting next week to deliberate on the motion, despite the assembly currently being on recess.

For the impeachment to succeed, at least two-thirds of the 123-member assembly, or 82 MCAs, must vote in favor. If the motion passes, it will be forwarded to the Senate within two days, where a special committee or plenary session will review the charges. Sakaja will have the opportunity to defend himself before a Senate vote determines his fate. A majority vote in the Senate would result in his removal, with the Speaker of the County Assembly assuming the role of acting governor for up to 60 days, per Article 182(4) of the Constitution.

This is not the first time Sakaja has faced impeachment threats. Previous attempts, including one led by the late Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve in 2023, failed due to insufficient signatures and alleged threats to Munuve’s life. Munuve’s death in April 2025 sparked speculation, though Sakaja dismissed claims of foul play, stating an autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause. Another petition by Maxwell Achar in July 2025 accused Sakaja of misconduct but was dismissed by the Speaker.

The current impeachment bid comes amid reports that Sakaja has lost the support of ODM leader Raila Odinga and senior figures in the Kenya Kwanza coalition. Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai asserted, "Unlike in the past, Sakaja will not find political protection this time. We have sealed all loopholes to ensure the process succeeds." However, Alai also faced accusations from Sakaja’s supporters of sponsoring the impeachment, which he denied, clarifying that he was not part of the initial Kamkunji meeting.

Not all voices support the impeachment. Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Nairobi Patron Irungu Nyakera, a gubernatorial aspirant for 2027, has publicly opposed the move. Nyakera argued that Sakaja, elected in 2022 for a five-year term, should be allowed to complete his mandate. "While I would naturally benefit if Sakaja were impeached, I do not support it. Nairobians chose him, and democracy demands we respect that choice," Nyakera said. He urged Sakaja to focus on delivering tangible results in his remaining two years and called on residents to make better choices in 2027.

Some critics have questioned the MCAs’ motives, suggesting the impeachment push may be linked to a fallout over a planned land subdivision exercise in Nairobi. Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, despite supporting the impeachment, previously accused the assembly’s majority leadership of double standards, claiming they frustrated earlier motions without clearance from Raila Odinga. "This is blackmail. They are more guilty of the crimes they accuse Sakaja of," Alai said in a prior statement.

Others, including Nyakera, have accused Sakaja of relying on "goon-ship and PR theatrics" instead of addressing governance issues. A February 2025 Infotrak Research and Consulting report ranked Sakaja among the bottom ten governors, with seven in ten Nairobians expressing dissatisfaction over corruption, insecurity, and poor service delivery.

Governor Sakaja has not publicly responded to the latest impeachment charges or the MCA’s allegations. His silence has further fueled frustration among ward representatives, who accuse him of ignoring their concerns. Meanwhile, a consultative meeting convened by Raila Odinga on August 29, 2025, with Sakaja, Deputy Governor Muchiri, Speaker Ng’ondi, and other leaders, aimed to address governance issues but appears to have done little to quell the impeachment momentum.

The MCAs are preparing for a retreat in Naivasha on September 2, 2025, to finalize their strategy and continue collecting signatures. Organizers are confident that the number of signatures will soon exceed the 82 needed to pass the motion in the assembly. Roysambu MCA Sospeter Mumbi expressed the group’s determination, stating, "We are tired of being ignored. Nairobi must change, and the only way is to remove leaders standing in the way of service delivery."

As the impeachment process moves forward, Nairobi residents await the outcome of this high-stakes political battle. If successful, the motion could reshape the county’s leadership and set a precedent for accountability in Kenya’s devolved governance system. However, failure to secure the required votes or Senate approval could grant Sakaja a three-month reprieve from similar charges, leaving the city’s governance challenges unresolved.