A concerned resident of Nairobi has officially submitted a petition to the Nairobi County Assembly, requesting the start of an impeachment process against Governor Johnson Sakaja.
In the petition, the governor is accused of serious misconduct, including gross violation of the Constitution and national laws, abuse of office, and infringing on the rights of Nairobi citizens.
The petitioner claims that Governor Sakaja has been misusing his powers and engaging in activities that harm the public and break the law.
One of the major accusations is that Sakaja unlawfully deployed county officials to forcibly evict tenants living in government-managed houses.
Additionally, the governor is alleged to have fraudulently altered or misrepresented rent arrears owed by property owners within Nairobi.
The petitioner is urging the County Assembly to accept the petition under Standing Order 68 and immediately begin the impeachment process. According to the resident, removing Sakaja from office would restore accountability and responsible leadership in the county government.
The petitioner has also requested that a special committee be formed to investigate the claims thoroughly. If the committee finds the accusations to be valid, they should then introduce an official motion to impeach the governor.
Backing the petition are several pieces of evidence, according to the complainant. These include sworn statements (affidavits) from individuals who were allegedly evicted unlawfully, photos and video recordings of alleged violent attacks by hired goons—said to have been sent by the governor to carry out the evictions—as well as rent records that demonstrate how the amounts owed were allegedly manipulated. The petitioner says he is ready to present all this evidence to support the investigation.
Part of the petition reads, “We, the undersigned residents of Nairobi County, exercising our rights under Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which guarantees the right to petition, and Section 15 of the County Governments Act, do hereby request the County Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Arthur Johnson Sakaja.”
The petition continues to say, “Governor Sakaja’s actions amount to serious misconduct, abuse of public office, and deliberate disregard of the Constitution.
He has failed the people of Nairobi, and it is time he is held responsible. We call upon all Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to honor their oath of office under Article 74(2) and act in defence of the Constitution.”
Governor Sakaja has faced mounting public criticism over the past week, particularly after he was allegedly linked to a group of goons who disrupted peaceful protests in Nairobi on Tuesday, June 17.
Many Kenyans expressed outrage after the protest was violently interrupted, with fingers pointed at the county leadership.
Responding to the allegations on Sunday, June 22, Sakaja strongly denied any involvement in the violent disruptions. He insisted that at no point in his political career has he used goons to interfere with public demonstrations.
The governor emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations and said that he had already reached out to the regional commander of the National Police Service (NPS) to ensure that protestors will be protected during the upcoming demonstrations scheduled for Wednesday, June 25.
“I urge all Kenyans, especially Nairobi residents, to avoid violence and criminal activities while exercising their constitutional right to protest,” Sakaja said in his statement.
“I have personally spoken with the police commander to make sure peaceful demonstrators are safeguarded while expressing their views. This must be done within the framework of the law, as clearly outlined in the Constitution,” he added.
The impeachment petition and recent unrest come at a time when tensions are high across the country, with many citizens expressing frustrations over governance and economic hardships.
Whether or not the County Assembly will act on the petition remains to be seen, but the pressure is clearly mounting on Governor Sakaja to defend his leadership.
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