The looming impeachment of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has been put on hold, following high-level interventions by President William Ruto and ODM party leader Raila Odinga, aimed at defusing growing political tensions in the Nairobi County Assembly.
On Tuesday, Raila held a closed-door meeting with Governor Sakaja and ODM-allied MCAs, during which he successfully persuaded them to suspend the impeachment process.
The meeting, which lasted nearly four hours, was part of a broader effort to create room for dialogue and reconciliation between the county executive and the assembly.
The developments were confirmed by a source who attended the meeting, as well as Nairobi ODM Chairperson and Makadara MP George Aladwa, who later addressed the media.
“We have deliberated for nearly four hours. The MCAs aired their concerns, and the Governor acknowledged and apologised for the issues raised. We have agreed to suspend the impeachment process for one month to allow for corrections and reconciliation,” Aladwa said.
He added that the decision was made in the interest of unity and service delivery to Nairobi residents, urging both parties to use the grace period to resolve outstanding grievances.
Governor Sakaja reportedly apologised to the MCAs and committed to improving his leadership style, particularly in addressing key concerns such as delayed bursary disbursements, the stalled Ward Development Fund, and perceived neglect of ward-level priorities.
While the ODM meeting was underway, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) reportedly convened a parallel session with its MCAs.
Sources indicate that President Ruto held a meeting at State House, Nairobi, where he cautioned party members against pushing the ouster motion, urging political stability in the capital.
As of Monday, both ODM and UDA MCAs had already collected over 70 signatures just short of the 82 required to table an official impeachment motion in the 123-member Nairobi County Assembly.
The temporary truce now provides a 30-day window for the Governor and the Assembly to iron out their differences.
Aladwa made it clear that failure to do so could see the impeachment motion revived.
“We want Governor Sakaja to focus on service delivery, and we expect meaningful progress within the next month,” he said.
The move marks a significant de-escalation in what had become a deeply polarizing standoff, with both sides now under pressure to prioritise governance over political brinkmanship.
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