Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is reportedly on the run after police officers stormed City Hall on Monday evening in an attempt to arrest him over a Senate-issued warrant for contempt of Parliament.
Dramatic scenes unfolded as officers arrived at the premises late in the day, acting on what authorities described as a lawful arrest order.
According to Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud, the move followed repeated failure by the governor to honour summons issued by a Senate watchdog committee. The committee had been seeking his response to audit queries linked to the management of county resources.
Police, however, failed to apprehend Sakaja, who is believed to have left City Hall moments before their arrival.
The timing of his exit has raised questions about whether he may have been alerted in advance about the planned operation. Officers conducted searches within the building but did not find him, forcing them to widen their efforts beyond the premises.
“We will not relent. We are conducting a night operation to ensure he is arrested and presented before the Senate by tomorrow,” Mohamud said, signaling an escalation in efforts to track down the embattled county boss.
The arrest warrant stems from proceedings by a Senate oversight committee tasked with examining financial and administrative conduct within county governments. Lawmakers had summoned Sakaja to respond to concerns raised in audit reports, but he reportedly failed to appear on multiple occasions.
This prompted the committee to invoke its constitutional powers to compel his attendance.
The Senate has recently taken a firmer position against governors who fail to comply with its directives. Legislators argue that ignoring summons weakens parliamentary oversight and undermines accountability in the use of public funds. The current situation involving Sakaja is seen as part of a broader effort by the Senate to enforce its authority.
In a related development, police have also been directed to arrest Samburu Governor Jonathan Lati Lelelit, who similarly failed to honour Senate summons. Mohamud confirmed that officers are actively pursuing both governors, indicating that the crackdown could extend further if more county leaders are found in contempt of Parliament.
Attention now shifts to whether the governor will present himself or be apprehended, as pressure mounts to uphold accountability within county governments.
