Police hunt for Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over Senate contempt
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, March 30, 2026Police have intensified efforts to locate Johnson Sakaja following a Senate directive ordering his arrest for contempt of Parliament.
Issa Mohamud, the Regional Police Commander, talked to the press on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Nairobi City Hall and confirmed that officers have been looking for the governor but have not yet found him. He stated that the operation will continue until Sakaja is apprehended and presented before the Senate committee.
“I will go look for him. We are not relenting, and we are going to look for him, and if he does not present himself by tomorrow morning, maybe we will get him tonight,” Mohamud said.
The directive follows Sakaja’s failure to appear before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, a move that has heightened tensions between Nairobi County leadership and legislators.
Senate issues arrest order
The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) formally issued the arrest order on March 25, 2026, after the governor failed to honour multiple summonses to respond to audit queries for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, directed the Inspector-General to apprehend Sakaja and present him before the panel by Monday, March 30, 2026.
In addition to the arrest directive, lawmakers imposed a Ksh500,000 fine on the governor for contempt of Parliament, signalling a firm stance on the enforcement of accountability measures.
The committee is seeking answers to more than 30 audit queries, including concerns over the hiring of advisors beyond the legal threshold and irregularities in the management of solid waste funds.
Senators have warned that continued defiance could result in a recommendation declaring Sakaja unfit to hold public office. Such a resolution would be forwarded to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for further action.
Authorities maintain that the search for the governor is ongoing, underscoring the seriousness of the Senate’s directive and the growing push for accountability among public officers.