Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has strongly criticised Nairobi Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) for dropping their plan to impeach Governor Johnson Sakaja. Speaking to the press, Odinga said the decision undermined devolution and the constitutional role of MCAs as oversight authorities in county governments.
The impeachment drive against Sakaja had initially gained momentum but was abandoned after the governor separately held meetings with President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga. The move sparked debate, with critics accusing the MCAs of bowing to political pressure.
Odinga argued that once the impeachment process had been initiated, the MCAs should have been allowed to pursue it to its conclusion. “One of the main tenets of devolution is that MCAs are oversighters of the county government. Therefore, the fact that the MCAs of Nairobi came out and said that they had no confidence in the Governor of Nairobi should have been recognised, and nothing should have been done,” she said.
She further noted that impeachment is a constitutional tool meant to hold governors accountable and protect public interest. “They should have gone through with the petition so that, in case they felt wronged, they could impeach him and send the matter to the Senate. But to stop the process when there were already grievances was very disappointing,” she added.
According to Odinga, the withdrawal of the motion was a setback for devolution and oversight, both of which are central to the 2010 Constitution. “They should have upheld the tenet of devolution that states that MCAs were in charge of oversighting the Governor. So for me, I am very clear and categorical, that the MCAs of Nairobi have let down the people of Nairobi,” she stated.
Her remarks add a new layer to the political debate surrounding Governor Sakaja, whose leadership has faced mounting criticism in recent months.
