Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has broken his silence following the death of Kariobangi North Member of County Assembly (MCA) Joel Munuve.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, April 23, Sakaja extended his condolences to Munuve’s family and called for calm amid an investigation into the MCA's death.
"I pass my deepest and sincere condolences to the people of Kariobangi North who lost a Member of County Assembly (MCA), Joel Munuve; he collapsed at home, and the autopsy is slated for tomorrow, Thursday, April 24. We have asked for a full investigation so that we understand what happened because I don't think he had a history of illness," he said.
Additionally, Sakaja emphasized the need for sobriety in handling the tragedy, cautioning against any form of political speculation.
"Death is a serious thing, it is not something that we can play with or politicize. He was very firm and passionate about the issues he believed in; there were times we disagreed and also times we agreed. I want to allay whatever political speculation that could be there. There is a full investigation into what happened to Munuve," he added.
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Sakaja further reassured the public that relevant institutions will launch a thorough probe into the incident should his autopsy indicate any foul play.
"We have agencies in this country that are charged with those responsibilities, and they should do their work. There are processes in this country that work and must work because if it was foul play, there must be justice," he stated.
Munuve passed away on Tuesday, April 22, while receiving treatment at a hospital in Kiambu.
He made headlines in late 2023 when he initiated a campaign to collect signatures for the impeachment of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
This move was driven by allegations of delayed bursary disbursements, incompetence in county leadership, and widespread corruption at City Hall.
Munuve, along with other Nairobi MCAs, expressed frustration over the governor's handling of county affairs, citing issues such as revenue mismanagement and the influence of cartels within the county administration.
The impeachment efforts gained traction as more MCAs voiced concerns about the county's financial practices and governance.
Some legislators accused Sakaja of lacking control over revenue collection systems and failing to address operational challenges in county facilities.
"The fact that the governor claims the NIS is collecting revenue is shameless. The governor does not even know who is collecting revenue," Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai said at the time.
