The political storm surrounding Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has thrust Kenya’s capital into a governance showdown, as Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) accuse him of incompetence, corruption, and neglect of public services. What began as a local outcry over uncollected garbage, delayed bursaries, and stalled ward projects has escalated into one of the most significant impeachment pushes since devolution began in 2013 — one that has drawn intervention from both President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Sakaja, elected in 2022 on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, campaigned on promises to restore efficiency to Nairobi’s chaotic systems. Three years later, MCAs claim little progress has been made. More than 20 charges, including financial mismanagement, constitutional violations, and alleged misuse of county resources, were listed in an impeachment motion backed by over 80 of the assembly’s 123 members. The bipartisan support — from both UDA and ODM members — underscored growing frustration within City Hall. Some MCAs even accused Sakaja of sponsoring goons to disrupt youth-led protests earlier in the year.
As tension mounted, Kenya’s top political figures intervened to avert a full-blown crisis. On September 2, President Ruto met UDA-aligned MCAs at State House, urging them to give Sakaja a 60-day grace period to fix the city’s problems, while Raila Odinga held a parallel meeting with ODM legislators to prioritize stability. The truce, however, only suspended the motion. MCAs warned that if ward funds and bursaries remain frozen or city services unimproved by November, the impeachment will resume. Critics on social media have branded the intervention a political handshake shielding poor leadership, while residents continue to decry worsening sanitation and water shortages.
Governance experts warn that Sakaja’s troubles mirror a deeper crisis in Kenya’s devolved system — where political alliances often override accountability. With Nairobi’s Sh45 billion budget failing to deliver visible results, public confidence in City Hall continues to erode. If Sakaja fails to meet his 60-day promise, he risks joining the short list of governors removed from office, while Nairobians remain trapped between partisan wrangling and deteriorating public services. As 2027 approaches, the city’s leadership turmoil is shaping into a defining test for Kenya’s devolution dream.