Two minutes? How Sakaja breached protocol to save self from impeachment

When President William Ruto listened to a conversation between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Governor Johnson Sakaja ahead of looming impeachment on August 30, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Last week, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was handed a two-month lifeline after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MCAs agreed to suspend an impeachment process against him.

This came after the Orange party, which holds a majority of members in the City Assembly, held a closed-door meeting attended by ODM leader Raila Odinga, veteran politician Fred Gumo, and city legislators.

The meeting, chaired by Makadara MP George Aladwa, came after weeks of tension in Nairobi's county assembly, where a section of MCAs had collected enough signatures to trigger Sakaja's removal.

Governor Sakaja whispers a word to ODM leader Raila Odinga during CHAN 2024 finals at Moin International Sports Centre, Kasarani on August 30, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

The legislators had accused the governor of failing to deliver on services, mismanaging resources, and sidelining elected leaders in decision-making.

Aladwa confirmed that the five-hour deliberation, held in Nairobi, gave all parties a chance to air their grievances.

He said the governor defended himself and apologised to the MCAs, promising to address their concerns within a month.

But prior to the meeting, The Standard can confirm that Sakaja broke the protocol and pleaded with Raila Odinga to convince President Ruto to intervene.

During the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Sakaja saw the only opportunity he would reach the two leaders before his impeachment.

President William Ruto seemed to have agreed after listening to a conversation between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on August 30, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

In a photo sequence captured by The Standard, Sakaja who was seated metres away breached the protocol and made his way to where Raila and Ruto were seated.

The governor is seen whispering a word to 'Baba', before the ODM leader grabs Ruto's hand and asked him to listen to the conversation.

In less than two minutes, the president who seemed to be uncomfortable however listened in but in response with a thumbs up, agreed to the conversation to the satisfaction of the embattled governor.

Three days later, both Ruto and Raila convened meetings with the city MCAs who then resolved to suspend the motion for a month to allow the governor to work.

While addressing journalists after the meeting, Aladwa dismissed reports that the MCAs had been coerced into dropping the impeachment.

He described the resolution as a product of collective reasoning and urged the MCAs to focus on service delivery rather than political wrangles.

"No one has been coerced or forced to make a decision, but we all reasoned together. The governor defended himself and apologised, and we have agreed that for the next month, the concerns will be addressed," he said.