President William Ruto’s senior adviser, Prof. Makau Mutua, has cautioned the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against pushing forward with plans to impeach Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, warning the move could backfire politically.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, Mutua termed the timing of the impeachment attempt as ill-advised, describing it as part of the political “silly season” that could carry dire consequences, particularly for ODM.
“If you understand politics, you should know it’s a head-scratcher to impeach Governor Johnson Sakaja. It would be an own-goal by the ODM party in the midst of the silly season,” Mutua said.
According to the adviser, removing Sakaja from office would undermine the stability of Nairobi’s administration and weaken what he described as a broad-based system of governance that benefits the city’s residents. He further argued that such political maneuvers would not occur in developed democracies such as the United States, where institutions and timing play a critical role in political accountability.
His remarks came after Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) held parallel meetings on Tuesday to discuss a petition presented against the governor. The ward representatives, many of them allied to ODM, claimed they had sufficient grounds to impeach Sakaja, citing alleged mismanagement and governance issues.
Governor Sakaja, who attended both meetings, sought to calm tensions by assuring MCAs that he would embrace greater consultation in the management of the capital city. He emphasized his willingness to involve the ward representatives in decision-making processes to ensure more inclusive governance.
The impeachment debate has triggered sharp divisions within Nairobi’s political landscape, with ODM allies arguing for accountability, while Sakaja’s supporters accuse the opposition party of playing short-term politics.
Mutua’s intervention underscores the delicate political balancing act in Nairobi, a county often considered a barometer of national politics. Whether ODM proceeds with the impeachment or heeds the caution remains to be seen, but the episode has once again placed the capital at the center of Kenya’s political drama.
