The corridors of Nairobi’s City Hall are thick with tension and whispered conversations as Governor Johnson Sakaja orchestrates what sources describe as an imminent cabinet purge, barely three weeks after narrowly escaping an impeachment attempt that nearly ended his political career.
The embattled county chief, who survived the legislative coup through last-minute interventions by President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, now finds himself racing against time to implement wholesale changes in his administration before another impeachment storm gathers.
On a crisp Thursday afternoon, September 18, 2025, Sakaja convened a closed-door meeting with County Assembly Speaker Ken Ng’ondi and the powerful House Liaison Committee, a gathering that has set tongues wagging among political observers who see it as the prelude to significant administrative changes.
The meeting, which the governor diplomatically described on his Facebook page as focusing on “strengthening relationships between the two arms of county government,” was in reality a calculated move to gauge the political temperature and buy himself breathing room before the Assembly resumes business on September 23.
The stakes could not be higher for the second-term governor, who secured a reprieve from what appeared to be certain political death when over 70 of the 122 Members of County Assembly had already signed an impeachment motion by early September.
The intervention by the country’s top political leaders came with strings attached – Sakaja was reportedly given a 60-day ultimatum to address the grievances raised by the MCAs, with the clock ticking ominously since September 2.
Sources within City Hall reveal that the anticipated purge will be extensive, touching key positions that have become flashpoints in Sakaja’s troubled relationship with the county legislators.
At the epicenter of the planned changes is the position of County Secretary, currently held in an acting capacity by Geoffrey Akumali.
The docket has become a symbol of the governor’s administrative challenges, with MCAs viewing leadership changes in this office as crucial to their demands for improved service delivery and project implementation.
The governor’s inner circle has identified several candidates for the coveted County Secretary position, each bringing different political calculations to the table.
Oscar Omoke, the Chief Officer for Water and Sewerage, emerges as a frontrunner, not least because of his close ties to both Sakaja and the ODM leadership.
Omoke, who unsuccessfully contested the Lang’ata parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket before losing in the primaries to current MP Felix Odiwuor Jalang’o, represents the governor’s attempt to appease opposition interests within the county government.
Patrick Analo, the Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning, presents another compelling option for the role.
With over two years of acting experience in the position and extensive institutional memory dating back to the defunct City Council of Nairobi, Analo could provide the continuity and immediate impact that frustrated MCAs desperately seek.
His background as an Urban Planner and his deep understanding of City Hall operations make him attractive to legislators who want someone who can “hit the ground running” rather than spend months acclimatizing to the systems.
The reshuffling extends beyond the County Secretary position, with several other high-profile officials reportedly in the crosshairs.
The Finance and Economic Affairs docket, along with the Chief Finance Officer position, features prominently in discussions about changes, reflecting MCAs’ long-standing concerns about financial management and budget implementation.
The county lands sector, another perennial source of controversy, is also expected to see significant changes as Sakaja attempts to address systemic issues that have plagued his administration.
Among the personalities likely to be affected by the purge are CECM for Boroughs, Administration and Personnel S.G. Mwangi, CECM for Built Environment and Urban Planning Patrick Mbogo, County Administrator Peter Ogola, and Chief Officer for Disaster Management Bramwel Simiyu.
These changes reflect not just political calculations but also Sakaja’s recognition that some members of his inner circle may have contributed to his deteriorating relationship with the Assembly.
The political maneuvering takes place against the backdrop of what many describe as the most serious crisis of Sakaja’s tenure.
The impeachment motion that nearly unseated him was remarkable for its bipartisan nature, with both ODM and UDA ward representatives uniting in rare political harmony against the governor.
The charges against him included allegations of corruption, misuse of public funds, failure to implement development projects, and general incompetence in managing Nairobi’s affairs.
The intervention that saved Sakaja’s political skin involved extensive behind-the-scenes negotiations, with COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli and veteran politician Fred Gumo playing crucial roles in building bridges between the governor and key political leaders.
Gumo’s involvement was particularly significant given that his son, Mike Mayo Gumo, serves as CECM for Innovation and Digital Economy in Sakaja’s government, creating additional layers of political complexity.
However, the temporary truce brokered by Ruto and Raila has not eliminated the underlying tensions that sparked the impeachment attempt.
Sources within the Assembly indicate that a third plot to remove Sakaja is already being hatched, with some MCAs expressing frustration at what they perceive as external interference in county affairs.
The broad-based government arrangement between Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza and Raila’s ODM, while providing Sakaja with political cover, has also created resentment among legislators who feel their democratic mandate to hold the executive accountable has been undermined.
The urgency driving Sakaja’s reshuffling plans is evident in the calendar of events leading up to the anticipated changes.
His 66th cabinet meeting on September 16, followed by a two-day retreat with his executive committee at Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, were clearly designed to prepare his team for the coming storm.
These meetings, ostensibly focused on service delivery and development strategies, served a dual purpose of assessing loyalty within his ranks and identifying officials who needed to be replaced.
The challenges facing Sakaja extend beyond political survival to fundamental questions about governance and service delivery in Kenya’s capital city.
Stalled development projects, particularly at the ward level, have become a major source of friction between the county executive and legislative arms.
MCAs, facing pressure from constituents over delayed or abandoned projects, view the reshuffling as their last hope for meaningful change before the next electoral cycle.
The legal framework governing the appointment of key positions, particularly the County Secretary, adds another layer of complexity to Sakaja’s plans.
The County Governments Act requires competitive sourcing of candidates with specific qualifications, including university education and at least ten years of administrative experience.
The County Public Service Board must advertise positions and conduct competitive interviews, with the governor’s nominee requiring Assembly approval through the Committee on Appointments.
This process, while designed to ensure merit-based appointments, also provides MCAs with significant leverage over Sakaja’s choices.
The governor’s ability to secure approval for his preferred candidates will serve as a critical test of whether his political rehabilitation efforts have been successful or whether deeper animosity still exists within the Assembly ranks.
As Nairobi residents watch this political drama unfold, the stakes extend far beyond the career prospects of individual politicians.
The capital city faces numerous challenges, from inadequate infrastructure and poor service delivery to mounting debt and stalled development projects.
The resolution of the current crisis between the governor and the Assembly will determine whether Nairobi can move forward with meaningful governance reforms or remain trapped in political paralysis.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Sakaja’s survival strategy, built on political accommodation and administrative changes, can provide a foundation for the remainder of his term or merely delays an inevitable political reckoning.
With the Assembly set to resume business and the 60-day ultimatum counting down, the embattled governor finds himself walking a tightrope between political survival and effective governance, knowing that his next moves could determine not just his own future but the trajectory of Kenya’s most important county for years to come.
For now, the atmosphere of anxiety that has gripped City Hall shows no signs of lifting, as both supporters and critics of the governor wait to see whether his reshuffling gambit will be enough to restore stability to Nairobi’s governance or merely set the stage for the next round of political confrontation.
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