Police officers searched Nairobi City Hall on Monday in an operation targeting Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja after a Senate watchdog committee ordered his arrest for contempt of Parliament. The move followed claims that the governor failed to honour multiple summons to appear before lawmakers over financial accountability concerns.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed that officers had launched a search for the governor within City Hall but had not located him at the time. He said the operation would continue until the governor is found and presented before the Senate committee, adding that police would not abandon the effort.
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According to the commander, authorities were prepared to pursue the matter urgently, warning that if the governor did not present himself voluntarily, officers would continue searching through the night. He emphasized that the police were executing their mandate in compliance with lawful instructions.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga clarified that the enforcement action was not limited to Nairobi. He said a similar directive had also been issued against the governor of Samburu County and that both leaders were required under Articles 96 and 125 of the Constitution to appear before the Senate when summoned.
Nyaga noted that officers across the country had been instructed to execute the arrest orders wherever the governors might be found. He added that the National Police Service was acting on instructions issued through the Office of the Inspector General, stressing that the law must apply equally to all public officials.
The developments stem from a decision made on March 25 by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Moses Kajwang. The committee fined Sakaja Sh500,000 and ordered his arrest after concluding that he was in contempt for failing to honour repeated invitations to appear before it.
The committee had sought explanations regarding the management of billions of shillings allocated to Nairobi City County Government. Lawmakers cited concerns raised in the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/25 financial year, which flagged several financial irregularities. These included unsupported personnel expenditures, withdrawals from salary accounts without proper documentation, and questions surrounding fuel spending and waste management contracts.
During the deliberations, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna argued that the Senate must compel the governor to account for public funds, saying the committee provided the appropriate forum for oversight. He warned that the findings pointed to serious governance concerns that required direct explanation from the county leadership.
In response, the Office of the Governor described the arrest directive as unnecessary and maintained that the dispute between governors and the Senate should be addressed institutionally. The office pointed to guidance from the Council of Governors advising county chiefs not to appear before the committee until broader issues between the Senate and county governments were resolved.
The governor’s office also stated that Sakaja remained accessible through official channels and had previously appeared before other Senate committees. It added that the matter reflected a collective position adopted by several county leaders rather than an individual refusal to cooperate.
The search at City Hall unfolded amid heightened attention to accountability and oversight of county finances, with police reiterating that those summoned by Parliament are legally obligated to comply.
