Kasarani Member of Parliament Ronald Karauri says he would seek to establish a working relationship with Nairobi Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) if elected governor, arguing that cooperation and a shared development agenda would be essential to running the county.
Karauri addressed concerns that a governor elected on a ticket different from that of the majority of MCAs could face political resistance, including disagreements that might disrupt the implementation of county programmes.
He said he was confident that a constructive relationship with the assembly could be built regardless of political affiliations.
“I think I will establish a proper relationship with my MCAs because if you have unity of purpose, I believe you can always work together,” he said during an interview.
His remarks came as he discussed his political positioning ahead of the Nairobi gubernatorial contest. Karauri said he was currently seeking support from voters as an independent candidate but expected to eventually secure a party or coalition ticket for the election.
The interviewer raised the possibility of a governor facing opposition from MCAs who belong to other political formations, a situation that has the potential to complicate budget approvals, legislation and the implementation of county programmes.
Karauri said he was not particularly worried about that possibility.
“I don’t fear it that much. Let’s get there and see that we deal with it,” he said.
He argued that disagreements within the assembly should be handled through established constitutional and legal processes rather than personal or political hostility.
The MP also referred to impeachment, saying MCAs should not remove a governor simply because they disagree with the individual politically.
“MCAs should not just impeach me because they don’t like me,” he said.
He added that impeachment should be based on grounds that can withstand legal scrutiny.
“You need to have grounds that can hold up in court and say we impeach this guy because he’s done these particular violations,” he said.
Karauri’s comments suggest that he would seek to manage the relationship with the county assembly through engagement and what he described as unity of purpose.
The relationship between a governor and the assembly is central to county administration. MCAs exercise legislative and oversight responsibilities, while the assembly also considers and approves key county plans and budgets.
A governor therefore needs sufficient cooperation with the assembly to advance policy priorities, although the assembly is constitutionally expected to exercise independent oversight over the county executive.
Karauri’s position comes as he seeks to present himself as a candidate focused on management and service delivery rather than political competition.
He has argued elsewhere in the interview that running a county requires different skills from those needed in Parliament, describing the governor’s role as one centred on managing the county and ensuring public services are delivered.
His proposed Nairobi agenda includes reforms in garbage collection, building approvals, drainage, healthcare, business licensing and youth enterprise.
Several of those proposals would require county budgetary support and cooperation with the assembly, making the relationship with MCAs an important part of any future administration.
Karauri also said he was not currently negotiating with political parties, explaining that his immediate focus was engaging voters.
He nevertheless maintained that he would eventually identify a political formation through which to contest the governorship.
“I will definitely find a coalition where I can run on their ticket for governor of Nairobi,” he said.
The MP’s assurance that he would work with MCAs will be tested against the political realities of the county assembly, where party interests, local priorities and oversight responsibilities can shape the relationship between the legislature and the executive.
