Johnson Sakaja Responds to Senate Arrest Order, Calls Action Unwarranted
In the statement dated March 30, 2026, the governor’s office expressed concern over the actions taken by the Senate watchdog committee, saying the response by authorities following the arrest order was unnecessary. The office maintained that governors operate within institutions governed by law and regularly cooperate with established oversight bodies.
The Office of the Governor of Nairobi City County has issued a statement addressing recent Senate proceedings and an arrest order issued against Governor Johnson Sakaja.
In the statement dated March 30, 2026, the governor’s office expressed concern over the actions taken by the Senate watchdog committee, saying the response by authorities following the arrest order was unnecessary. The office maintained that governors operate within institutions governed by law and regularly cooperate with established oversight bodies.
According to the statement, the matter involving Sakaja is not a personal issue but one being handled collectively through the Council of Governors. The office argued that disputes between governors and the Senate should be addressed institutionally rather than targeting an individual county chief.
The statement further noted that Sakaja acted based on guidance from the Council of Governors, which had advised governors not to appear before the specific Senate committee until outstanding concerns were resolved. However, the governor’s office said Sakaja has continued appearing before other Senate committees, including the Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Additionally, the statement highlighted that the Nairobi governor has appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee more times than previous governors to respond to audit queries dating back to 2015. The office reiterated its commitment to cooperating with oversight institutions while seeking what it termed a fair and structured engagement between the Senate and county governments.
