Revealed: Mediated pact that halted Governor Johnson Sakaja’s impeachment
Issues of county administration were also addressed, including the dismissal or reassignment of officers. Chief Officer Osman Khalif and Housing Chief Officer Lydia Mathia are to be dismissed, while Finance Chief Officer Asha Abdi is to be reassigned.
A power struggle at City Hall appeared to ease on Wednesday night after a marathon meeting between Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), and party leaders, brokered by President William Ruto.
The closed-door talks, which lasted more than seven hours, addressed stalled projects, delayed bursaries, county operations, and the strained relationship between the executive and the assembly.
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Deputy Minority Leader Waithera Chege described the process as organised and focused, highlighting that the meeting was about presenting a structured list of challenges rather than debate.
“We had our second meeting yesterday with our party leader, the UDA party leader. We were just trying to explain to him the issues and the challenges that we have gone through at City Hall.”
“On Wednesday, it wasn’t a day of discussions and debate; it was a day of tabling the list and those things. Then we got them through the president and the governor. Then his work was to tell us from this list what he’s capable of doing within the 60 days,” she explained.
The list of concerns covered three main areas: pending bursaries, unresolved debts under the Ward Development Fund Program (WDP), and stalled projects across the county.
On bursaries, Waithera said, “Perhaps in November,” the governor told the meeting, adding that "new bursary forms would be issued in January”. She emphasised the impact on students, noting, “That means we will not receive the previous bursaries.”
President William Ruto (centre) mediated the pact. (Photo: PCS)
On development projects, Governor Sakaja is said to be committed to clearing all existing debts under WDP and completing stalled projects, including those previously delayed due to budget and operational constraints.
“All existing debts under WDP must be cleared, and all the projects under WDP must be completed,” Waithera confirmed, highlighting that the agreement was final and non-negotiable.
The meeting also tackled strained relations between the assembly and the governor. MCAs complained of poor access to the county boss, blocked consultations, and alleged intimidation by county staff.
“Under this issue, we agreed he will be meeting the Speaker weekly, he will be meeting the leadership monthly, and then he will be meeting the whole house quarterly,” Waithera explained.
Issues of county administration were also addressed, including the dismissal or reassignment of officers. Chief Officer Osman Khalif and Housing Chief Officer Lydia Mathia are to be dismissed, while Finance Chief Officer Asha Abdi is to be reassigned.
The UDA MCAs had accused some officers of harassing business owners, evicting tenants, and intimidating critics, allegations Sakaja denied.
Daily operations and routine maintenance also featured in the discussions. Garbage collection, road maintenance, and street lighting were highlighted as pressing concerns.
The governor noted the limitation of the county's 300 garbage trucks, which he said could not service the entire city efficiently, while the Deputy Minority leader indicated that long-term solutions would be pursued with presidential support.
On the release of assembly funds and engagement with county executives, Waithera confirmed that agreements had been reached to respect the autonomy of the assembly and ensure timely disbursement.
“The assembly funds must be released in good time. Engagements will be done within City Hall for matters that don’t need extra funding,” she said.
A section of the MCAs during the meeting. (Photo: PCS)
Assembly Minority Leader Anthony Kiragu cautioned that the impeachment motion against the governor was still active, stating, “The motion was not withdrawn; it still exists. If he fails to meet the demands we signed, we will proceed with impeachment.”
His sentiments were echoed by Woodley MCA Davidson Ngibuini, who said that the Governor has a chance to redeem himself, and failure to deliver within the required time frame, the impeachment will proceed.
The agreement was concluded with a signed memorandum of understanding, setting a framework for structured dialogue and project implementation. While tensions have eased, MCAs and party leaders will be monitoring the governor’s compliance closely in the coming months
On Thursday, city lawyers Harun Ndubi and Cyprian Nyamwamu described Nairobi as a “disaster zone,” pointing to piles of garbage, blocked drainage, and failing service delivery despite residents paying taxes. They called on citizens to unite against what they described as the “cruel looting” of the city and pledged to gather signatures across all 17 constituencies and 85 wards.
A group of Nairobi leaders also urged Governor Sakaja and the MCAs to resolve their disputes through dialogue rather than plunging the capital into another impeachment battle.
Senator Tabitha Mutinda (nominated), Mark Mwenje (MP Embakasi West), Antony Oluoch (MP Mathare), and Senator Karen Nyamu commended President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga for stepping in to ease tensions.
Senator Mutinda said, “We now call upon the Governor and the MCAs to spend the next 60 days engaging in dialogue, addressing the issues raised, and working for the great people of the city. Governor, make it work.”
The MPs cautioned against repeating the disorder that followed former Governor Mike Sonko’s removal, which had left Nairobi under the short-lived Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).
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