NAIROBI, Kenya — Police in Nairobi are searching for Governor Johnson Sakaja following a directive from a Senate watchdog committee recommending his arrest over alleged contempt of Parliament.
Authorities launched the operation after the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) resolved that Sakaja be produced before the committee to answer audit-related queries. The move marks a significant escalation in an ongoing standoff between the Nairobi county leadership and Senate oversight bodies.
Sources told Vivid Voice News that police officers were stationed outside City Hall in Nairobi’s central business district for much of Monday evening. However, initial attempts to locate the governor were unsuccessful.
Preliminary information suggests Sakaja may have left his office before police arrived, amid indications he was aware of the impending operation.
Confirming the search, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said the action was being undertaken on instructions from the Inspector General of Police.
“We are following orders issued by the Inspector General of Police and will take the necessary steps,” Mohamud said.
The directive follows a decision by CPAC on March 25 ordering Inspector General Douglas Kanja to ensure Sakaja appears before the committee by Monday, March 30.
CPAC chair Moses Kajwang warned that failure to comply would trigger further action, including a resolution declaring the governor unfit to hold public office.
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In addition, the committee imposed a fine of KSh 500,000 on Sakaja for failing to honour previous summons.
The confrontation underscores growing tensions between county governments and Senate oversight mechanisms in Kenya’s devolved system.
Under the Constitution, the Senate is mandated to scrutinise the use of public funds by county administrations, often through committees such as CPAC.
While contempt proceedings against public officials are not unprecedented, the move to involve police in enforcing Senate summons signals a more assertive approach by lawmakers in demanding accountability.
The standoff also raises legal and constitutional questions around the enforcement of parliamentary authority, including the extent to which law enforcement agencies can be deployed to compel attendance.
Governor Sakaja has yet to publicly respond to the latest developments, and it remains unclear whether he will comply with the Senate directive or challenge the process through the courts.
