• Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson’s legislative record as Senator included initiatives aimed at protecting public servants, expanding opportunities for youth, women and persons with disabilities, strengthening employment institutions, improving disaster preparedness and promoting entrepreneurship.

Before becoming Nairobi Governor, Sakaja Johnson served as Nairobi Senator between 2017 and 2022, a period during which he pursued legislative reforms targeting some of Kenya’s persistent governance, social and economic challenges.

His legislative record included sponsoring and co-sponsoring Bills touching on retirement benefits for county employees, disaster risk management, the constitutional relationship between the two levels of government, entrepreneurship, employment creation and timely payment of government suppliers.

Among the key initiatives were the County Governments Retirement Scheme Bill, 2018; Disaster Risk Management Bill, 2018; Determination of the Nature of Bills (Procedure) Bill, 2018; Startup Bill, 2021; Prompt Payment Bill, 2021; amendments to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act to provide for 30 per cent procurement preferences for youth, women and persons with disabilities; and the National Employment Authority Bill.

One of Sakaja’s early legislative initiatives was the County Governments Retirement Scheme Bill, 2018, which sought to establish a mandatory retirement benefits scheme for county government employees.

The proposal was designed to provide a structured pension arrangement for workers across all 47 counties, establish a Board of Trustees and provide for the proper management and protection of retirement savings.

The Bill addressed a significant challenge facing devolution, where county employees had concerns over delayed pension contributions, unremitted deductions and difficulties accessing retirement benefits.

Its importance lay in creating a more secure retirement framework for public servants while strengthening accountability in the management of workers’ pension contributions.

Sakaja also co-sponsored the Disaster Risk Management Bill, 2018, alongside Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

The proposed legislation sought to establish a coordinated national framework for managing disasters, moving the country away from a largely reactive approach towards prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The proposal was particularly important for a country regularly affected by floods, drought, landslides, fires and other emergencies.

The initiative subsequently featured in further legislative efforts, including the Disaster Risk Management Bill, 2021, which also received Sakaja’s support alongside Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

The wider legislative agenda ultimately culminated in the National Disaster Risk Management Act, 2026, signed into law on May 29, 2026. The law establishes a National Disaster Risk Management Authority and County Disaster Risk Management Committees to strengthen coordination between the national and county governments.

In 2018, Sakaja and Mutula Kilonzo Jr. co-sponsored the Determination of the Nature of Bills (Procedure) Bill.

The proposal sought to establish a clear framework for determining whether legislation introduced in Parliament affects county governments.

This was important because Kenya’s Constitution provides for two levels of government, each with distinct functions and responsibilities.

The Bill sought to prevent disputes over legislation affecting counties and ensure that the Senate’s constitutional role in protecting devolution was respected.

In 2021, Sakaja sponsored the Startup Bill, an initiative aimed at positioning Kenya as a competitive destination for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.

The proposal sought to create a supportive environment for startups through registration frameworks, incubation programmes, access to investment, financial and non-financial incentives and stronger links between innovators, universities and research institutions.

Its significance was particularly relevant to Kenya’s young population, where thousands of entrepreneurs have innovative business ideas but face challenges accessing capital, mentorship, markets and supportive regulatory frameworks.

The initiative continued through subsequent legislative processes, including the Startup Bill, 2022.

Sakaja also co-sponsored the Prompt Payment Bill, 2021, alongside nominated Senator Farhiya Haji.

The Bill sought to introduce a legal framework requiring government entities, both national and county, to make timely payments for goods, works and services supplied to them.

Delayed government payments have historically placed enormous pressure on businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that depend on government contracts.

The proposed legislation sought to address this challenge by establishing mechanisms for timely payment, improving accountability in public procurement and protecting businesses from the financial consequences of prolonged payment delays.

Another important aspect of Sakaja’s legislative agenda focused on expanding economic opportunities for groups that have traditionally faced barriers in accessing government contracts.

He championed amendments to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act aimed at providing a 30 per cent procurement preference for youth, women and persons with disabilities.

The proposed changes sought to strengthen access to government procurement opportunities for these groups, enabling them to participate more meaningfully in public sector business.

The initiative recognised public procurement as an important tool for economic empowerment, enterprise development and job creation.

By opening up government contracting opportunities, the proposal sought to ensure that young people, women and persons with disabilities could benefit directly from public expenditure rather than remain excluded from a significant part of the economy.

Sakaja also sponsored the National Employment Authority Bill, through which he sought to establish the National Employment Authority.

The initiative was aimed at strengthening the country’s employment framework by creating an institution dedicated to coordinating employment services, facilitating access to job opportunities and addressing challenges within the labour market.

The establishment of the Authority was particularly significant in a country grappling with unemployment, especially among young people entering the labour market.

It provided an institutional framework through which employment opportunities could be better coordinated, jobseekers supported and the relationship between employers and potential employees strengthened.

Taken together, these seven legislative initiatives demonstrate the breadth of Sakaja’s interests during his time in the Senate.

His agenda extended beyond Nairobi’s immediate challenges to address national issues touching on devolution, public service welfare, disaster preparedness, employment creation, economic empowerment, entrepreneurship and the business environment.

While the initiatives followed different legislative pathways, they placed important policy questions before Parliament and contributed to discussions on reforms that continue to shape Kenya’s governance and development agenda.

His transition from the Senate to City Hall in 2022 marked a shift from lawmaking to executive leadership, but the issues addressed in his legislative record remain relevant to the administration of Nairobi and the country’s broader development agenda.