Sakaja Dismisses Claims He Went Into Hiding as Senate Standoff Deepens

Nairobi City County Governor Johnson Sakaja has strongly dismissed claims that he went into hiding to avoid arrest after police officers surrounded City Hall on Monday evening.

The governor, speaking on Tuesday, March 31, made it clear that there was no truth to reports suggesting he was evading the authorities or trying to dodge accountability.

His remarks came shortly after he personally appeared before the Senate, a move he said was meant to clear the air and show that he had nothing to hide.

Sakaja explained that by the time police officers arrived at City Hall, he had already left the premises after spending the better part of the day in his office.

He pointed out that the officers came in the evening, well after normal working hours, questioning why anyone would expect him to still be at the office at around 7 pm.

According to the governor, the claims that he had disappeared were therefore misleading and designed to create unnecessary public speculation.

He firmly stated that he had no issue with appearing before the Senate and that his presence there on Tuesday should be enough proof that he respects the institution and its constitutional oversight role.

Sakaja stressed that he is a law-abiding citizen who understands the importance of accountability and due process, adding that he had absolutely nothing to run away from.

The governor further said that his decision to drive himself to the Senate was deliberate. He wanted to personally meet the Senate leadership and members of the relevant committee so as to end the rumours surrounding his whereabouts.

By appearing in person, Sakaja sought to demonstrate that he remains committed to engaging with oversight bodies despite the ongoing disagreement between governors and the Senate committee.

The standoff began after police officers camped outside City Hall on Monday evening in an attempt to arrest the governor over his failure to appear before the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), which is chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’.

The committee has recently taken a tough stand against governors who fail to honour summonses, even directing the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure compliance.

However, Sakaja denied that his absence was a personal decision or a deliberate act of defiance. He explained that he was acting in line with a collective position taken by the Council of Governors (CoG), which had raised concerns over the conduct of the specific Senate committee.

According to him, the CoG had advised governors to first seek a resolution on the issues they had raised before appearing again.

Sakaja maintained that accountability remains a key pillar of leadership, but insisted that it must be carried out in a fair, lawful, and respectful manner.

He said the governors are not against being questioned over the use of public resources, but believe the process should be handled without political tension, intimidation, or what he described as unnecessary drama.

To help ease the tension, the Nairobi governor revealed that he has already engaged both the Senate leadership and officials from the Council of Governors in discussions aimed at finding a lasting solution.

The goal, he said, is to create a clear framework that allows governors to honour oversight obligations while also addressing the institutional concerns that have caused the current deadlock.

He reiterated that once those underlying issues are resolved, he remains fully ready and willing to appear before the CPAC and respond to all audit queries touching on Nairobi County’s financial management.

Earlier in the day, the Council of Governors also came out in support of Sakaja, strongly condemning the attempted arrest.

The council called for the immediate withdrawal of the arrest warrants issued against both Sakaja and Samburu Governor Jonathan Lelit, arguing that the matter should instead be resolved through dialogue and institutional engagement.

The incident now adds fresh pressure to the already tense relationship between the Senate oversight committees and county chiefs, with many closely watching whether the two sides will reach common ground or whether the confrontation will escalate further in the coming days.

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