Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga speaks to the media at Parliament buildings on September 4, 2025. /SCREENGRABKisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has criticised ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto for intervening to protect Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja from an impeachment bid.
Ruth claimed the move by the two leaders to persuade Nairobi MCAs to abandon their motion undermined the principle of devolution, which she noted gives ward representatives the authority to oversee county executives without interference.
Speaking at Parliament Buildings on Thursday, she said the actions of Raila and Ruto sent the wrong signal about accountability in devolved units.
“The fact that MCAs in Nairobi came out to oversee and say they had no confidence in the governor should have been recognised, and nothing should have been done. They should have been allowed to go through with that petition,” Ruth said.
On Tuesday, Ruto and Raila held separate meetings with the ward representatives and convinced them to shelve the motion against Sakaja, who is serving his first term at City Hall.
The President later hosted UDA MCAs at State House, where he urged them to rally behind the embattled governor.
Despite the truce, discontent lingers at the Nairobi county assembly, with some MCAs warning that the impeachment plan is “very much alive.”
They resolved to give Sakaja a one-month grace period to resolve outstanding grievances or risk facing a renewed ouster bid.
The MCAs have alleged that Sakaja has neglected ward-level priorities, ignored the needs of Nairobi residents, and presided over mismanagement and poor service delivery in the capital.
Before the intervention, they had already collected the requisite signatures to table an impeachment motion.
Ruth maintained that the oversight role of the assembly should not have been curtailed.
“They should have been allowed to go through with that petition so that, in case there were wrongs, let the Senate determine whether he is right or not.
"I'm a believer in devolution and oversight, and therefore I feel disappointed in what the Nairobi MCAs have done,” she added.
