Sakaja Gets One-Month Reprieve After Raila-Led Talks

ODM leader Raila Odinga on Monday met with six Nairobi County Assembly leaders in a high-stakes effort to cool growing calls for the impeachment of Governor Johnson Sakaja and his deputy, Njoroge Muchiri.

The closed-door consultative session, attended by key county leaders and former MPs, sought to address the concerns raised by ward representatives while exploring a path forward. South B MCA and Deputy Minority Leader Waithera Chege later told reporters that National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and former Westlands MP Fred Gumo joined the talks, with Sakaja arriving later in the day.

“We were going to attend our own inside leadership meeting. So while we were there, we were told that ODM Party leader Raila Odinga (Baba) has requested to meet all of us. Yes, so we went and attended,” Waithera explained.

She revealed that the initial part of the meeting allowed MCAs to air their grievances. After a break for lunch, Sakaja’s staff joined the discussions, which stretched until 10 p.m. Despite the lengthy talks, Waithera stressed that the assembly must remain independent, even as Raila urged patience. She added that the impeachment push was not the work of a single faction but a collective initiative by members across political lines.

“The motion is not by us. It is an initiative by all the members. There is nobody in particular we can call and tell to drop the motion… The ODM will call its members today, and the UDA will call its members today. So, the meetings have been set,” she noted.

That same Tuesday, Nairobi UDA MCAs were summoned to State House by Minority Whip Mark Mugambi for a consultative session with their party leader. Woodley MCA Davidson Ngibuini said they intended to speak frankly at the meeting:

“Our party leader has called us to State House. But we have agreed that we will tell him the truth – that Nairobi things are not working, that is why we are initiating the impeachment.”

Meanwhile, ODM MCAs received invitations from Majority Whip Moses Ogeto to a separate 10:00 a.m. session at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation. With the assembly currently on recess, Standing Orders allow the Majority Leader to petition for a special sitting if 41 members support it – a threshold MCAs had already surpassed.

Reports last week indicated 70 signatures, a number that swelled to 87 by Monday, signaling momentum toward Sakaja’s removal.

Earlier interventions by Raila had not slowed the push. But on Tuesday, ODM’s closed-door meeting marked a turning point. The Orange party, which holds a majority in the Nairobi assembly, resolved to suspend the impeachment motion against Sakaja, handing the governor a crucial lifeline.

The meeting, chaired by Makadara MP George Aladwa, stretched for five hours and brought together ODM legislators, Raila, and Fred Gumo. Aladwa claimed the governor defended himself, apologized, and gave an assurance he would address the issues raised within one month.

“There has been a pending impeachment debate on the governor, and we have had a series of meetings. In today’s meeting, attended by Raila and Fred Gumo and chaired by me, the MCAs raised their concerns and we deliberated on them,” Aladwa said.

He acknowledged that the ward representatives had met the threshold to initiate the process but said dialogue prevailed.

“We have agreed that the mover of the motion suspend it so that the governor be given time to work. He has been advised to take responsibility and address the issues raised. I hail the party leader for cooling the tides and bringing together the MCAs who have expressed themselves openly.”

Aladwa stressed that the resolution was reached collectively, not through coercion. “No one has been coerced or forced to make a decision, but we all reasoned together. The governor defended himself and apologised, and we have agreed that for the next month, the concerns will be addressed.”

The decision effectively buys Sakaja a month to mend ties with ward representatives and tackle the grievances threatening his leadership. Whether he delivers on his promises will determine if this truce holds or if impeachment flames reignite.

The post Sakaja Gets One-Month Reprieve After Raila-Led Talks appeared first on Nairobi Wire.