Crack in Odinga family as Ruth faults her brother Raila for saving Sakaja
Kisumu County Women Representative Ruth Odinga, on Friday, September 5, 2025, left Kenyans speculating about a possible political split in the Odinga family over the woes surrounding Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Speaking to the press, Ruth, unlike her brother Raila Odinga, expressed disappointment that Nairobi Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) were not allowed to exercise their constitutional mandate.
Ruth Odinga’s stand
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“One of the main tenets of devolution is that MCAs are overseers of the county government.
“Therefore, the fact that the MCAs of Nairobi came out and said that they had no confidence in the Governor of Nairobi should have been recognised, and nothing should have been done,” Ruth Odinga said.
She went further to argue that the process should have been allowed to proceed.
“They (Nairobi MCAs) should have been allowed to go through with the petition. So that, in case they felt wronged, they should have impeached him and sent him to the Senate. But to stop the process, when there were already grievances, was very disappointing,” she added.
Additionally, Ruth insisted that blocking the oversight process undermined devolution.
“They should have upheld the tenet of devolution that states that MCAs were in charge of overseeing the Governor.
So for me, I am very clear and categorical that the MCAs of Nairobi have let down the people of Nairobi,” she stated.
Ruto and Raila’s intervention
Her sharp remarks came just days after President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga held separate meetings with MCAs in Upper Hill, Nairobi and at State House to defuse the impeachment storm.
By September 2, all 85 elected MCAs had signed the impeachment motion, accusing Governor Sakaja of failing to deliver on pledges, neglecting stalled projects, and ignoring communication with ward leaders.
At State House, President Ruto cautioned UDA-allied MCAs against pursuing the ouster, saying leadership requires resilience.
“I have been the most accused person, but I never allowed that to derail my work. I urge you to put aside differences and drop this motion,” the Head of State said.
Almost at the same time, Raila convened ODM MPs and MCAs in Nairobi, later joined by Sakaja.
The meeting resolved to treat the impeachment as a distraction that risked destabilising the capital city.
“Nairobi must not be held hostage by political brinkmanship. Leaders must rise above partisan agendas to deliver for the people,” Raila said.
