In Nairobi politics, the battle to remove Governor Johnson Sakaja from office came close to reality but shifted dramatically after heavy political pressure was applied.
What began as a clear impeachment process by Members of the County Assembly quickly turned into a temporary retreat once powerful figures at the national level intervened.
For several weeks, MCAs had mobilized themselves across party lines to push for Sakaja’s removal.
They pointed to incomplete projects in many wards, irregularities in how bursary funds were being distributed, and what they saw as a growing gap between the governor’s office and the residents they represent.
According to one MCA who spoke anonymously, the numbers and signatures required for impeachment had already been gathered.
The process appeared unstoppable until sudden phone calls and summons shifted the momentum.
Reports from those close to the assembly revealed that MCAs were invited to two crucial meetings.
The first one was at State House with President William Ruto, while the second one was at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation under ODM leader Raila Odinga.
At both meetings, the message was firm—drop the motion or face political consequences.
Raila emphasized party loyalty, reminding ODM ward representatives that their political futures depended on discipline and unity.
Makadara MP George Aladwa explained that this was not meant to be a threat but a reminder of party structures.
Yet, for many of the MCAs, the directive felt like a direct interference in their oversight role.At State House, President Ruto appealed to UDA-affiliated MCAs with a softer but equally firm approach.
He urged them to resolve issues through dialogue instead of impeachment, sharing that he himself had faced numerous accusations but never let them derail his work.
According to those present, the president asked them to give Sakaja more time to deliver.
Faced with pressure from both political sides, the MCAs agreed to suspend the impeachment motion for 30 days.
This move effectively gave Sakaja a lifeline to repair relations with ward representatives and address the grievances that had triggered the process in the first place.
However, not everyone welcomed the suspension. South B MCA Chege Waithera openly criticized the move, describing it as a betrayal of Nairobi residents.
She argued that MCAs were elected to represent the people and not to protect politicians when they fail in service delivery.
For ordinary residents, like Mama Amina from Eastleigh who has been waiting for two years for a drainage project that has never been completed, the political maneuvering feels distant and irrelevant.
This standoff at City Hall has shown that Nairobi’s leadership struggles are not just about projects and service delivery but also about political survival.
Governor Sakaja remains in office, not because the accusations against him were resolved, but because national leaders intervened and convinced MCAs to fold their cards.
The coming weeks will determine whether Sakaja uses this grace period to fix his strained relationship with the assembly or whether the impeachment threat will return even stronger.
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