Nairobi County governor Johnson Sakaja has faced tough questions from the Senate Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee over the eviction of tenants from Old Ngara Estate, as senators ordered him to investigate claims that some Nairobi County officials could be behind illegal attempts to repossess and reallocate the houses.

According to a statement by the Parliament of Kenya on Friday, May, 8, 2026, the committee session, chaired by nominated Senator Veronica Maina, focused on allegations of unlawful evictions, disputed rent accounts and claims that some county officials could be involved in irregular attempts to repossess and reallocate houses within the estate.

Addressing the committee on Thursday, May 7, 2026, Maina said residents deserved answers regarding the treatment they had received from the county government.

“Governor, this committee is glad you are finally here. The residents of Old Ngara deserve answers on the evictions, on the accounts, and on how the county intends to treat its most vulnerable tenants going forward,” she said.

Sakaja, who appeared before the committee with written submissions, denied deliberately ignoring the Senate summons, attributing his earlier absence to miscommunication rather than contempt.

“I did not disrespect this honourable committee. My administration cannot and will not carry out inhumane evictions,” Sakaja told senators.

Responsibility of tenants

However, the governor maintained that tenants also had a responsibility to meet their rent obligations, arguing that persistent non-payment had deprived the county of billions of shillings in revenue.

“Tenants must meet their obligations. Impunity in rent payment has denied the county billions in revenue, a persistent audit query my administration cannot condone,” he added.

The committee then raised a more troubling concern, that some county staff may have personal interests in the contested properties and were deliberately harassing tenants to facilitate illegal reallocation.

Investigation of county staff

Senator Daniel Maanzo pressed the governor, ordering him to investigate his staff, who he said are interested in the property in question.

“We need you to investigate your own staff. There is a credible concern that some officers have vested interests in these properties. That would explain why tenants with proof of payment are still being evicted. This committee wants accountability,” Maanzo stated.

In response, Sakaja agreed to undertake a full reconciliation of tenant accounts and announced the establishment of dedicated reporting desks at City Hall and within the estate offices to address disputes raised by residents.

The committee insisted that tenants who may have been unlawfully evicted must receive justice and compensation.

“Governor, we expect full reconciliation of these accounts. And where tenants were evicted illegally, restitution must follow. No one should lose their home unlawfully and walk away without remedy,” Senator Maina said.