A fresh attempt to impeach Johnson Sakaja has surfaced at the Nairobi City County Assembly, barely two days after he entered a cooperation framework with William Ruto aimed at improving service delivery in the capital.
A section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) is reportedly mobilizing support to revive an ouster motion, arguing that the governor’s decision to seek support from State House amounts to an admission of failure to effectively run county operations.
At the centre of the dispute is a cooperation arrangement between City Hall and the national government designed to address Nairobi’s chronic service delivery challenges.
The framework is expected to facilitate joint planning and funding in critical sectors including solid waste management, road maintenance, drainage improvement, urban transport coordination, and enforcement of planning regulations.
Officials familiar with the plan say national agencies will provide technical support, equipment, and logistical capacity to complement county efforts, particularly in waste collection, rehabilitation of key roads, and flood mitigation in informal settlements and flood-prone areas.
The agreement also seeks to streamline revenue systems and strengthen enforcement against illegal developments blamed for congestion and environmental hazards.
MCAs pushing the impeachment bid argue that the arrangement undermines devolution by expanding national government influence over county functions.
They contend that turning to State House weakens county autonomy and raises accountability concerns.
The development follows an earlier impeachment attempt that collapsed after political intervention. President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga were seen as instrumental in defusing tensions and preventing Sakaja’s removal.
Allies of the governor defend the partnership as pragmatic, saying Nairobi’s infrastructure strain, rapid urban growth, and revenue leakages require coordinated intervention.
If formally tabled, the motion could ignite a fresh political showdown and test the balance between intergovernmental cooperation and county independence in Kenya’s devolved system.