Police are actively searching for Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following an arrest order issued by the Senate watchdog committee for contempt of Parliament.
Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed on Monday that law enforcement officers are prepared to enforce the order and take the governor to the Senate.
A contingent of police had gathered outside Sakaja’s office, with the regional commander saying that they got intel he would be around after failing to find him during the day.
“His chief of staff was contacted and informed that the only honourable thing he [Governor Sakaja] could do was to go to the Senate, but he has failed to present himself. We will look for him and do the needful. It is the dignity of the office that he presents himself,” Commander Mohamud said.
“There is no need for any further impunity. We need him to comply and present himself before we get him. As law enforcement officers, it is our duty to take him before the Senate, and that we shall do without fear or favour. We have been looking for him, and we never got him, but we received information that he might be around. That is why we are here this evening. The work is not finished because we have not taken him to the Senate, but that we will do. We do not tolerate impunity. We have a country to protect.”
The police move comes after the Senate watchdog committee found Governor Sakaja in contempt for failing to appear before it.
Commander Mohamud emphasised that the action is intended to uphold the law and preserve the dignity of public office, warning that failure to comply would not be tolerated.
This comes days after a Senate watchdog committee fined Governor Sakaja Sh500,000 and ordered his arrest for contempt of Parliament.
The County Public Accounts Committee directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to arrest the governor and present him before the committee on Monday, March 30, after finding him guilty of failing to honour multiple summons.
Sakaja had been invited three times to appear before the committee but failed to do so, prompting the issuance of summons. He was expected to explain how billions of shillings allocated to Nairobi City County were spent.
“The IG must arrest and present the governor before the committee on Monday, March 30. The time of presenting him shall be communicated,” Senator Moses Kajwang said while delivering the verdict.
The committee is expected to deliberate on whether the governor’s actions amount to gross violation of the Constitution, potentially rendering him unfit to hold public office.
Should the committee find him in serious breach of the law, it will make recommendations to the Senate, whose resolution could significantly impact his political future, especially ahead of the 2027 general election.
