Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has rejected plans to arrest him over failure to appear before a Senate committee, terming the move unwarranted and unnecessary.
In a statement issued on Monday, March 30, Sakaja argued that the standoff is not personal but stems from a broader dispute between the Council of Governors and the Senate. He maintained that he acted on guidance from the governors’ body, which advised members to boycott the specific committee until key concerns are addressed.
The governor defended his record, noting he has appeared before several Senate committees in the past, including recent engagements, and has consistently addressed audit queries over the years. He faulted authorities for singling him out in what he described as a collective issue, adding that deploying police to enforce compliance created unnecessary tension. Sakaja further revealed that 29 governors had been summoned on the same day, with most declining to participate in line with the Council of Governors’ position, citing grievances such as alleged intimidation and extortion by some committee members.
Despite the escalating standoff, Sakaja expressed willingness to engage once the institutional concerns are resolved. He called for restraint and urged both the Senate and the Council of Governors to pursue dialogue and structured engagement instead of enforcement measures. Meanwhile, police continue to pursue the governor after he failed to honour the summons, with authorities maintaining that they are acting on lawful orders to compel his appearance before the Senate watchdog committee.