Sakaja Responds To Calls By Senators To Have Him Arrested

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Thursday, April 11 responded to orders issued by the Senate to have him arrested after he failed to appear for summon over the Mradi gas explosion in Embakasi.

Taking to his X account, the county boss affirmed the importance of the summons as a constitutional requirement which he values with high regard but maintained that he was out of the country and thus could not appear for grilling.

He however accused the Senators of double speak, adding that they had previously announced that he was away.

Inside the Kenyan Senate Chambers. /SENATE KENYA

"It is the same members who announced that I was out of the country on Monday who are now up in arms that I am away. 

"I have appeared severally and will continue to do so. I have no reason not to respond to any questions raised on Mradi or FY 20-22 audits. Sensationalizing a rescheduling and making the Senate appear as if it acts in vain is what belittles the house," he slammed.

Additionally, he argued that many appearances by other invitees have been rescheduled due to travel, infirmity or prior booked official engagements.

His statement comes after the Senate Energy Committee directed the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koom to arrest him and present him before the committee on April 25, 2024.

The Senators also wanted him fined Ksh500,000 for inexcusably skipping summons as per the statutory requirements for leaders who unwarrantedly skip summons by Parliament.

“The Senate Energy Committee looking into the Mradi gas explosion in Embakasi has resolved to fine Governor Sakaja another Ksh500,000 and requested the IG of Police to arrest and present him to the committee on 25th April 2024. He failed to appear again this morning,” Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna announced.

"Whoever is protecting Johnson Sakaja must know he is an accomplice and must look in the mirror and let justice prevail," commented Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina.

It is not the first time that the Nairobi governor has been punished for failing to appear before the Senate.

On April 8, The County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) issued a warning to Sakaja after the latter missed the committee's summon, which forced the committee to issue a 14-day ultimatum for the governor to appear and answer audit queries.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at the Centre for Engineering and Mechanical Excellence in the UK on March 31, 2023. /JOHNSON SAKAJA