The recent attempt by a section of Nairobi Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to impeach Governor Johnson Sakaja was a case in point. What began as a bold move to hold the county chief accountable for unfulfilled promises and stalled projects was abruptly halted by powerful political forces. However, in a surprising turn of events, it was not the opposition, but a seasoned voice from within, Ruth Odinga, who publicly criticized the decision, sparking a renewed debate about the integrity of devolution and the role of oversight bodies.
Ruth Odinga's dissent is particularly significant because it goes against the grain of the political truce brokered by her brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and President William Ruto. Both leaders had intervened to save Governor Sakaja, with Raila persuading ODM-allied MCAs to suspend the motion, while President Ruto cautioned UDA members against it. This bipartisan intervention, while seemingly designed to quell political turmoil, has raised unsettling questions about whether the Executive is overstepping its bounds and undermining the constitutional mandate of the county assemblies.
The former Prime Minister's sister did not mince words, calling the decision to halt the impeachment "disappointing" and a "letdown to the people of Nairobi." Her stance highlights a critical flaw in the system: when top-level political deals take precedence over the legitimate grievances of the electorate, the entire democratic framework is weakened. The MCAs' motion, which had garnered over 70 signatures, was not based on a personal vendetta but on tangible issues affecting the lives of Nairobi residents, including delays in bursary disbursements and a stalled Ward Development Fund. These are the very issues that devolution was designed to address, and sidelining them for political expediency is, as Odinga argues, a betrayal of that promise.
The impeachment effort was a direct response to public frustration with Governor Sakaja's administration. The MCAs accused him of failing to deliver on his campaign promises and of neglecting the basic needs of the city's residents.
