Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja appeared in court on Wednesday to respond to allegations of contempt related to his failure to appoint a County Secretary despite a court directive.
The court had ordered Sakaja on December 5, 2025, to initiate a competitive recruitment process and appoint a County Secretary within 60 days. Petitioners moved to have the governor cited for contempt, seeking possible civil jail or other penalties for non-compliance.
Governor's Defense
During the hearing, Sakaja explained that he acted promptly upon receiving the judgment by instructing the county attorney to implement the court's orders. He emphasized that appointing a County Secretary involves multiple constitutional and statutory stakeholders, making it impossible for him to act unilaterally.
He outlined the appointment process, highlighting the role of the selection panel in conducting recruitment and making recommendations. The public also participates by providing input, and the County Assembly vets the nominee before final approval.
"Once I forwarded the nominee to the Speaker of the County Assembly, the matter is no longer in my hands but with the assembly to follow due process," Sakaja told the court.
Petitioners' Concerns
The petitioners argued that the continued delay undermines public confidence in the judiciary and hampers service delivery in Nairobi, as the county remains without a substantive County Secretary. They urged the court to hold Sakaja personally accountable for the alleged non-compliance.
Next Steps
Sakaja's legal team requested the dismissal of the contempt application, maintaining that the governor has taken the necessary steps to comply with the court orders.
