Ruth Odinga, sister to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has launched a rare but fierce attack on her brother for shielding Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja from impeachment. Her blunt remarks exposed deep cracks within the Odinga family and the ODM party, fueling public debate on Raila’s loyalty to the people of Nairobi.
Ruth said the decision to block the impeachment bid betrayed the constitutional role of oversight by MCAs and weakened devolution. Her criticism has reignited the storm over Sakaja’s controversial leadership.
Ruth Odinga Takes On Raila Over Sakaja
Ruth Odinga did not mince her words when addressing reporters on the collapse of Sakaja’s impeachment push. She accused Raila of undermining the oversight powers of Nairobi MCAs by cutting a deal to protect the embattled governor.
“One of the main tenets of devolution is that MCAs are oversighters of the county government. The fact that the MCAs of Nairobi declared they had no confidence in the Governor should have been recognised. Nothing should have been done to stop them,” Ruth said.
She further explained that impeachment was the only legitimate route to resolve grievances that MCAs had raised against Sakaja. Blocking the process, she argued, was an insult to the spirit of accountability entrenched in the Constitution.
“They should have been allowed to go through with the petition. If they felt wronged, they should have impeached him and sent him to the Senate. To stop the process, when there were already grievances, was very disappointing,” Ruth said.
According to her, Nairobi MCAs betrayed the people by bowing to political pressure. She noted that by shelving the impeachment, they had abandoned their oversight role and left residents without recourse.
Why Ruth Odinga Believes MCAs Betrayed Devolution
The Kisumu Woman Representative insisted that the impeachment bid was not about political games but about accountability. She maintained that MCAs had gathered valid complaints against Sakaja, and abandoning the process only emboldened incompetence.
“They should have upheld the tenet of devolution that states that MCAs were in charge of oversighting the Governor. For me, I am very clear and categorical, the MCAs of Nairobi have let down the people of Nairobi,” she declared.
The grievances against Sakaja included delays in bursary disbursement, the collapse of the Ward Development Fund, and neglect of Nairobi residents’ needs. Many MCAs also accused Sakaja of ignoring ward-level priorities and failing to deliver on his campaign promises.
ODM and UDA MCAs had already collected more than 70 signatures out of the 82 required to formally table the impeachment motion. Yet, the pressure mounted by Raila and President William Ruto at separate meetings ended the drive before it reached the Assembly.
Raila hosted Sakaja and ODM-allied MCAs at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, persuading them to hold off for a month. The governor reportedly apologised for his failures and pledged to correct his mistakes. At the same time, President Ruto held a parallel meeting with UDA MCAs at State House, warning them against pushing for impeachment.
Ruth Odinga Defends Oversight Powers of MCAs
Ruth Odinga stressed that impeachment is not a political weapon but a constitutional safeguard. She argued that the process ensures governors remain accountable to the people who elected them.
Her criticism has raised questions about Raila’s judgment at a time when he is positioning himself for the top job at the African Union Commission. Analysts believe Ruth’s remarks expose Raila to accusations of being out of touch with grassroots frustrations.
By siding with Sakaja, Raila and Ruto may have averted a political showdown in Nairobi, but they also silenced legitimate concerns raised by the Assembly. Ruth warned that this decision sets a dangerous precedent where political deals override constitutional checks and balances.
Incompetent Sakaja Still Under Fire Despite Political Rescue
Even after being saved from immediate impeachment, Sakaja remains on shaky ground. The grievances against him have not disappeared. Nairobi residents still demand answers on bursaries, stalled projects, and unmet campaign pledges.
Ruth Odinga’s intervention has rekindled public anger, with many Nairobians questioning whether Raila prioritised political expediency over accountability. The pressure is now on Sakaja to prove his worth within the one-month grace period granted by ODM MCAs.
If he fails to deliver, the impeachment storm could return, this time with stronger backing from Ruth and other leaders who believe Nairobi deserves better governance.
