Police in Kenya have launched a manhunt for Johnson Sakaja after he reportedly fled upon learning that senators had recommended his arrest.
Sakaja, the Governor of Nairobi, has been wanted by police since March 30, 2026. He is accused of showing contempt toward members of Parliament of Kenya after failing to appear before a Senate committee that was investigating the alleged misuse of public funds.
Reports indicate that Sakaja learned about the planned arrest before police reached him, prompting him to leave his office and go into hiding.
The Nairobi regional police commander, Issa Mohamud, confirmed that officers are actively searching for the governor following orders issued by a Senate oversight committee.
“We are following instructions from the Inspector General of Police and doing everything possible to locate him,” Mohamud said.
On March 25, 2026, Sakaja failed to appear before the Kenya Senate Public Accounts Committee to respond to concerns raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of Kenya over alleged financial mismanagement in Nairobi County.
The committee, chaired by Moses Kajwang, then ordered the Kenya Police Service to arrest Sakaja and present him before the Senate no later than March 30, 2026.
Kajwang warned that if police fail to apprehend the governor, the Senate may conclude that Sakaja is unfit to continue holding public office.
Sakaja was also fined 500,000 Kenyan shillings (about Rwf 5.6 million) for failing to appear before the committee. His absence was interpreted by the committee as an admission that the findings of the Auditor-General were valid.
Among the issues raised in the audit report is the hiring of seven advisers by Sakaja, each reportedly earning 203,000 Kenyan shillings (about Rwf 2.2 million) per month in arrangements alleged to violate public service regulations.
