I’m sorry for flouting rules, Sakaja says as he quits team

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja will today be charged at a special court sitting at Kasarani Stadium for contravening curfew orders.

Yesterday morning, Sakaja announced that he had resigned as the Senate ad hoc committee chairperson on Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya following his arrest.

The committee was mandated to oversight actions and measures taken by the national and county governments in addressing the spread and effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

The senator, who went into hiding after he was released from police custody over the weekend, appeared yesterday before the Kilimani Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Fatuma Hadi accompanied by his lawyers, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and John Khaminwa.

The team arrived at the station at 10.24am and proceeded directly to Fatuma’s office where Sakaja was later released on a cash bail of Sh10,000.

Making amends

Sakaja later said he had taken responsibility for his actions and regretted the incident.

“I take responsibility for having flouted the Covid-19 rules on Friday. I was outside my home after 9pm and that is against the rules. It is regrettable, but all of us make mistakes,” he said.

“On flouting the rules, I apologise to Kenyans. I will face the full consequences of the law. I also wish to state that I resigned from the ad hoc committee on Covid-19, which I have been chairing. We have done a lot of work so far.

“I support the work the government is doing across the country and because of that responsibility, and the example I need to set, I have this morning officially resigned,” he said.

Sakaja said he would abide by the rules as no one was above the law.

“I have paid cash bail and I will appear in court tomorrow. Indeed I want to urge Kenyans to follow the government directives,” he said at the station.

The senator, however, took issue with the police for camping at his residence and intimidating his family.  

“What is surprising is that the whole Saturday and Sunday, over 50 officers armed with rifles have been camping at my residence,” he said.