The push to impeach Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja gathered
momentum on Wednesday as MCAs started compiling charges
against him ahead of a retreat in Naivasha next week.
The Star has established that at least 10 charges are being
drafted, ranging from alleged misappropriation of funds, revenue diversion,
bursary fund irregularities, to questionable payments on legal fees.
“We are going to Naivasha on Tuesday. That is where the decision
will be made. But, to me, this is hot air,” Kitisuru MCA Alvin Olando told the Star.
Majority leader Peter Imwatok declined to comment on the issue,
saying he would speak on it once the motion is formally filed in the assembly.
Nairobi West MCA Rex Omole and Riruta’s Erick Kiogora
confirmed that several charges were being lined up with every member allowed to
make contributions.
“What is happening now is the compilation of charges and we
are jointly contributing so that we have a serious case,” Omole said.
Some MCAs are accusing the governor of allegedly misappropriating
funds, alleged revenue diversion, the mystery of bursary funds and payments
related to legal fees.
However, Sakaja did not respond to our inquiries on the allegations
and the impeachment plot against him.
The Star understands that the MCAs would firm up the removal plan during Tuesday’s retreat.
The signature collection process is expected to
begin and the mover of the motion identified at the retreat.
According to Kiogora, the assembly has no option but to push
through the process for it to earn respect.
“This is what has to happen if we have to earn respect from
Nairobi residents who may think we are doing it for optics,” he said.
Speaker Ken Ngondi had on Tuesday confirmed that he has no
reason standing in the way of the MCA, in case they want to pursue any agenda
that is within the confines of the law.
“I cannot gag the members if they have a genuine agenda and
if they want an opportunity to air their grievances,” he said.
This came even as it emerged that some Orange Democratic
Movement MCAs are cautious about the planned impeachment.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has read malice in the process,
which he says has ill motives aimed at serving self-interests.
He has blamed the
assembly leadership, which he claims is rotten.
“The assembly leadership is too rotten to hold anyone to
account. They don’t care because MCAs don’t get to choose them,”
South C MCA Abbas Khalif is also opposed to the planned
impeachment and has declared it a null and void exercise.
“It is going nowhere because Sakaja is here to stay and will
be here beyond 2027,” Abbas, who is eyeing the Lang'ata parliamentary seat,
said.
Critics of the plan have dismissed it because the assembly
is in recess and that execution will be difficult.
The assembly is on a long recess and is scheduled to resume
on September 23.
But according to Nairobi South B MCA Chege Waithera,
collection of signatures can be done at any time and the proponents of the
idea are within law to compile their charges.
The Tuesday special meeting attracted nearly 100 out of the
122 legislators and it will take 44 out of the 85 elected MCAs to append their
signatures on the motion for it to be accepted by the speaker.
According to Chege, a special sitting to discuss the motion
is enough once all the other processes have been met.
“It’s not the work of the speaker to collect signatures, but
members. Even if it means calling for a special meeting to deal with the
specific agenda, we are ready,” he said.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Nairobi MCAs have unanimously agreed to impeach Governor Johnson Sakaja over what they term as sheer incompetence and neglect of development projects at the ward level.
The resolution was passed after a speaker kamkunji, convened by Speaker Ken Ngondi to allow the MCAs to ventilate on the persistent grievances they have been complaining about. A special retreat has been scheduled for Tuesday next week in Naivasha, where the assembly leadership will spearhead signature collection.
Nairobi South B MCA Chege Waithera confirmed that the final decision was reached with the house leadership across the political divide set to lead the onslaught on the governor.