Azimio MCAs reject fresh bid to impeach Sakaja, cite Ruto–Raila truce
By Kenneth Mwenda, March 4, 2026A fresh attempt to impeach Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has sparked a sharp split at City Hall, with the Assembly Majority leadership rejecting the move and backing the Ksh80 billion cooperation deal between the county and the national government.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, a section of MCAs led by Deputy Minority Leader Waithera Chege said they were ready to table an impeachment motion containing 22 counts against Sakaja. However, they claimed their plan stalled after the Clerk of the County Assembly could not be reached to receive and verify signatures.
Chege said they would present the motion once the clerk confirms the signatures and forwards the documents to the Speaker. She declined to disclose the details of the 22 counts.
But on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok led 72 MCAs in distancing the Azimio coalition from the renewed ouster push.
Speaking at a press briefing at the County Assembly, Imwatok said the impeachment narrative was political rhetoric meant to derail development.
“We stand firmly for unity, stability and the development of Nairobi. Our focus is on delivering services to the people, not engaging in unnecessary political distractions,” he said.
Imwatok said the Assembly had just unanimously approved a Ksh80 billion cooperation agreement between Nairobi County and the national government. He argued that the deal would unlock major infrastructure and service delivery projects.
“The Nairobi City County Assembly unanimously approved the cooperation agreement yesterday, demonstrating our collective commitment across political divides to prioritise the interests of Nairobi residents,” he said.
“We firmly reject any attempt to create unnecessary noise, interfere with the leadership of the city or destabilise the prevailing tranquillity. Our priority remains the fulfilment of the aspirations of the broad-based government and the socio-economic advancement of Nairobi.”
Imwatok said the MCAs were guided by the position taken by President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga during last year’s standoff over Sakaja’s leadership.
“We are therefore unequivocally opposed to any attempt to impeach the Governor at this critical time, particularly when the city stands at the threshold of historic development under a cooperation agreement by His Excellency the President,” he said.
He maintained that Sakaja had shown willingness to work across party lines.
“Governor Sakaja has on numerous occasions demonstrated goodwill and willingness to work collaboratively in advancing the Azimio dream and the broad-based government inclusively. In that spirit, we shall fully support him to ensure stability and continued leadership for the benefit of our people,” Imwatok said.
Echoes of 2025 standoff
The latest dispute mirrors events in September 2025, when all 85 elected MCAs signed an impeachment motion against Sakaja. At the time, President Ruto met UDA-aligned MCAs at State House and urged them to drop the push.
“I have been the most accused person, but I never allowed that to derail my work. I urge you to put aside differences and drop this motion,” Ruto told them.
Almost at the same time, last year, the late Raila Odinga convened ODM MPs and MCAs in Nairobi. The meeting ended with a consensus to withdraw support for the ouster, warning that it would destabilise the capital.
“Nairobi must not be held hostage by political brinkmanship. Leaders must rise above partisan agendas to deliver for the people,” Raila said then.
The renewed impeachment talk comes just weeks after President Ruto clarified that there was no transfer of functions from Nairobi County to the national government under the new pact.
“Let me repeat, there is no transfer of functions happening. For the avoidance of doubt, I have no interest in running the city of Nairobi. My hands are full. The governor and his team must run the city of Nairobi,” Ruto said at State House.