By steve
Members of Parliament and the Senate have called for calm and dialogue in Nairobi politics, urging Governor Johnson Sakaja to be given time to deliver on the promises he made to city residents.
Speaking on Thursday, Mathare MP Oluoch Anthony, Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje, and Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu emphasized that the focus should remain on service delivery, not divisive political battles.
This comes in the wake of an aborted impeachment motion against Governor Sakaja by Members of the Nairobi County Assembly (MCAs). The lawmakers acknowledged the MCAs’ constitutional right to oversight but praised their decision to step down the proceedings after consultations with President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
“Our constitution allows for oversight, including impeachment, but it also allows space for dialogue. The MCAs had raised genuine issues, but wisdom prevailed when national leaders intervened to prioritize the greater public interest,” MP Oluoch stated.
The leaders argued that impeachment would have destabilized Nairobi, drawing parallels with the chaos that followed the removal of former Governor Mike Sonko, which led to the formation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and service delivery disruptions.
Instead, they said, the governor now has a critical opportunity to “reconnect with his base” and realign his administration with the priorities of Nairobi residents.
Among the issues highlighted were poor garbage collection, delayed payments to contractors, and delayed bursary disbursements problems that MCAs had flagged during their oversight sessions.
“This 60-day window must not be wasted. Governor Sakaja should use it to address key service delivery challenges so that Nairobians can feel the impact of his administration. Dialogue is the best way forward,” Senator Nyamu added.
The leaders further framed the decision as a victory for President Ruto’s broad-based governance agenda, noting that Nairobi’s stability is crucial to the success of the national conversation.
They insisted that this reprieve should not be seen as a political escape for the governor but as a silver lining a chance for him to refocus on leadership, governance, and the mantra that guided his campaign: Itaabidi Iwork (It must work).
“Everyone deserves a second chance,” MP Mwenje said. “What matters now is that the governor proves to the people of Nairobi that his government is capable of delivering.”
The political truce, they noted, gives Nairobians hope that instead of partisan fights, leaders can come together to address pressing issues facing the capital.