Police Surround City Hall in Bid to Arrest Governor Sakaja

Police officers surrounded City Hall Nairobi on Monday evening in an attempt to arrest Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following a Senate contempt order.

Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said officers had been deployed to enforce the directive, saying that the governor is required to appear before the Senate. He added that the police would act impartially to ensure compliance with the law.

Officers were sent after receiving information that the governor might be at his office. However, they did not find him during the day. Reports suggest he may have left before their arrival, prompting a continued search in other parts of the city.

His chief of staff was contacted and asked to facilitate his appearance before the Senate, but no response was reported. The action follows a decision by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, which last week found Sakaja in contempt of Parliament for failing to attend several hearings on county financial accounts.

On 25 March, the committee directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure the governor appeared before it by 30 March. It also imposed a fine of KSh 500,000 and warned that continued non-compliance could lead to further action, including a declaration of unfitness to hold office.