A standoff is unfolding in the capital after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was targeted for arrest following a Senate directive over alleged contempt of Parliament.
Police officers were deployed around Nairobi City Hall on Monday in an attempt to apprehend the governor. The move follows orders issued by the Senate’s oversight committee, which accuses Sakaja of repeatedly failing to honour summons to appear before it.
The Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee issued the arrest directive after the governor allegedly skipped multiple hearings related to Nairobi County’s financial management and audit queries. His absence was deemed contempt of Parliament, prompting the committee to seek enforcement action.
Authorities say the Inspector General of Police was instructed to ensure Sakaja is presented before the committee. However, attempts to locate him at City Hall were unsuccessful, with reports indicating he was not present during the police operation.
In response, Sakaja dismissed the attempted arrest as unnecessary, describing the situation as part of a broader institutional dispute. He argued that the standoff reflects ongoing tensions between county governments and the Senate regarding oversight roles.
The governor maintained that some county leaders, under the Council of Governors, have taken a collective position on engagement with certain Senate committees, pending resolution of the disagreements.
The incident underscores growing friction between devolved units and the Senate, which has insisted on its constitutional mandate to hold governors accountable for public funds. County leaders, on the other hand, have raised concerns about what they term overreach by parliamentary committees.
By Tuesday, there had been no confirmation of Sakaja’s arrest, though the situation remained fluid as authorities continued efforts to enforce the Senate’s directive.
