Sakaja pushes back on arrest move, says Senate standoff is institutional
By Francis Muli, March 30, 2026Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has pushed back against a move by the Kenya Police Service to deploy officers for his arrest, terming the action “unwarranted and unnecessary” and insisting the dispute in question is institutional, not personal.
In a statement on Monday, March 30, 2026, Sakaja said the arrest order, arising from his failure to appear before a Senate watchdog committee, fails to take into account an ongoing standoff between the Council of Governors and the Senate of Kenya.
“The issue at hand is not a personal matter concerning Governor Sakaja Johnson, but one that is being handled collectively by the Council of Governors,” the statement read.
Sakaja defended his absence, saying he acted on guidance from the Council of Governors, which advised members not to appear before the specific Senate committee until broader concerns are resolved. He argued that disputes between governors and senators “should be addressed institutionally… not through actions targeting an individual governor.”
At the same time, the governor noted that he has consistently honoured Senate invitations, citing appearances before multiple committees. He pointed to a recent session before the Lands and Environment Committee and said he has frequently engaged the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) on audit matters dating back to 2015.
“It is therefore misleading to single out one Governor in a matter that is collective and consultative in nature,” he said.
Sakaja also criticised the manner in which police were deployed, questioning both the timing and necessity of the operation.
“There is no justification for creating unnecessary drama or a show of force at night,” the statement said, adding that he had been in office throughout the day and remained accessible through official channels.
The governor further revealed that the standoff extends beyond Nairobi, disclosing that 29 governors had been summoned by the same Senate committee on the same day. Only two appeared, he said, and even then declined to address substantive matters in line with the Council’s position.
According to Sakaja, the dispute stems from unresolved concerns raised by governors against members of CPAC, including allegations of “extortion and intimidation.”
Despite the escalating tensions, he signalled willingness to engage once the institutional disagreements are addressed.
“The Nairobi Governor has always honoured invitations to appear before Senate committees and remains committed to doing so within the confines of the law,” the statement concluded.
He called for restraint and dialogue, urging both the Senate and the Council of Governors to resolve the impasse “amicably, respectfully, and through structured dialogue,” rather than escalating enforcement actions.