President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday intervened to defuse tensions over the planned impeachment of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
According to credible sources who attended the meetings, the two leaders are said to have urged the county leaders to prioritise dialogue and service delivery over political brinkmanship.
President Ruto met UDA MCAs at State House, where he cautioned them against pursuing the ouster motion.
Drawing from his own political experiences,
the President reportedly told the ward representatives that leadership requires
resilience, not retaliation.
“The president gave an example of himself being the most accused person yet, who has never derailed his work. He urged the MCAs to put aside differences and
drop this motion,” a source present said.
The State House meeting, which was held behind
closed doors and included MCAs from the UDA party, barred participants from
entering with electronic devices such as mobile phones.
Insiders said the MCAs raised numerous grievances against Sakaja during the
session, after which the president asked Sakaja to liaise with him in
addressing the issues raised in two months.
Almost simultaneously, Raila Odinga convened a
separate meeting in Nairobi with ODM MPs and MCAs, chaired by veteran
politician Fred Gumo and later joined by Sakaja himself.
Individuals familiar with the deliberations said the gathering allegedly reached
a consensus to withdraw support for the impeachment and instead open a window
for consultation.
“Nairobi must not be held hostage by political
brinkmanship. Leaders must rise above partisan agendas to deliver for the
people,” Raila was quoted as saying.
Sakaja, though elected on a UDA ticket, has
leaned on ODM’s numerical strength in the County Assembly, a move that has drawn criticism from sections
of Kenya Kwanza.
The governor has consistently defended his inclusive approach, arguing that
Nairobi’s diversity demands bipartisan leadership.
“We cannot allow tribal politics here. We must
work with both government and opposition to deliver for our people,” he has
previously said.
Sakaja’s bridge-building strategy has been
visible in his engagement with both camps, from hosting President Ruto during a
five-day development tour to visiting Raila at his Bondo home.
The episode has become a litmus test for
whether Kenya’s broad-based government can manage partisan strains and deliver
stability in the capital.
