Nairobi’s political temperature soared on Tuesday after South B MCA Chege Waithera, flanked by several colleagues, declared war on Governor Johnson Sakaja, vowing to kick him out of office.
Speaking at a fiery press conference in the Nairobi County Assembly precincts, Waithera claimed that 96 signatures had already been collected to initiate an impeachment motion against the Governor, accusing him of “failing Nairobians.”
“We are ready. Sakaja must go because he has failed to deliver on his promises,” thundered Waithera.
But behind the bold pronouncements lies a hard truth: removing Sakaja from City Hall is a near-impossible mission.
THE NUMBERS DON’T ADD UP
To impeach a governor, the law requires two critical thresholds. First, a minimum of 41 MCAs (one-third) must sign to table the motion — Waithera claims they have surpassed this with 96 signatures.
However, the ultimate hurdle is securing two-thirds of all 123 MCAs — a staggering 82 votes — to approve the motion on the floor.
“That’s where the dream collapses. The math doesn’t work for the anti-Sakaja camp,” noted a city-based political analyst.
Johnson Arthur Sakaja, Nairobi Governor
WHY THE ODDS FAVOR SAKAJA
Governor Sakaja is no political lightweight. Unlike his predecessors, he commands rare bipartisan goodwill, enjoying a working relationship with both President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
This political balance acts as a shield. Neither Azimio nor Kenya Kwanza appears keen to plunge Nairobi into chaos by backing an impeachment that could destabilize the capital ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“The big men want Nairobi calm. It’s too strategic to turn into a battlefield,” a political observer told this reporter.
THE PROJECTS THAT DEFINE SAKAJA’S TENURE
Despite criticism, Sakaja boasts a portfolio of flagship programs that have transformed Nairobi:
✅ Dishi Na County
A revolutionary school feeding program launched in January 2024, providing daily nutritious meals to thousands of children in public primary schools. It has boosted enrollment, reduced absenteeism, and improved nutrition for learners across all 17 sub-counties.
✅ 3,000-Strong Green Army
A workforce dedicated to urban cleaning, waste management, and beautification, restoring order in Nairobi’s CBD and estates. This initiative has significantly improved Nairobi’s environmental outlook, curbing illegal dumping and unclogging drainage systems.
✅ Beautification & Hawker Regulation
Through City Hall’s new urban order plan, Sakaja has controlled unregulated hawking, brought aesthetic improvements to the CBD, and addressed revenue leakages that plagued previous regimes.
✅ Digital Revenue System
Sakaja’s administration introduced digital platforms to streamline revenue collection, reducing graft and increasing county income.
✅ Timely Salary Payments & Stability
Unlike past regimes marred by strikes, Sakaja has ensured regular payment of staff salaries and restored confidence among county workers.
WHY IMPEACHMENT TALKS?
The pro-impeachment MCAs accuse Sakaja of delayed Ward Development Fund disbursements, failure to remit statutory deductions, and being “unreachable” to Nairobians.
“The Governor is running the county like his private firm. We cannot allow this impunity,” said one MCA aligned with the Waithera group.
But Sakaja has rubbished the claims, branding them as political blackmail:
“I will not be distracted by theatrics. My focus is on delivering for the people of Nairobi,” Sakaja told journalists recently.
THE POLITICAL SUBPLOT
Observers say the impeachment storm is fueled by succession politics. With Babu Owino vowing to challenge Sakaja in 2027, and names like Mike Sonko, Dennis Waweru, and Irungu Nyakera being floated, insiders believe this is an early salvo in the Nairobi power game.
“This is less about governance and more about 2027 positioning,” a senior county official opined.
THE SENATE FACTOR
Even if MCAs miraculously marshal 82 votes, the battle moves to the Senate, which has a history of overturning flimsy impeachments. Without rock-solid evidence of gross misconduct, the motion risks collapsing — leaving its architects politically humiliated.
For now, Sakaja, the self-styled “Mbeks of Nairobi”, remains firmly in control, buoyed by national alliances and public approval of his flagship programs.
As one veteran politician quipped:
“Impeaching Sakaja is like uprooting a mugumo tree with bare hands.”
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