Kenyan journalist Yvonne Okwara has stirred up a storm of controversy with her recent interview with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Okwara confronted the governor over his frequent absences from the city and his failure to address critical issues facing Nairobi residents.

The interview, which aired on national television last night, saw Okwara pressing Sakaja with tough questions about his whereabouts during times of crisis.

Particularly she highlighted his absence during the Embakasi gas explosion tragedy that claimed seven lives and left hundreds injured.

Okwara's relentless pursuit of accountability from the governor has sparked both praise and concern among Kenyans.  

At one time, the governor weakly said that he can't afford helicopters, like his subordinates, to go to many meetings at the same time on his schedule.

While many applauded her for holding a "deadbeat governor" to task, others expressed fears for her safety in light of the powerful interests she has challenged.

The crux of Okwara's interrogation centered on Sakaja's pattern of absence from crucial Senate committee meetings and his failure to respond to calls for accountability from various professional associations.

Despite Sakaja's attempts to deflect criticism and downplay the severity of his absences, Okwara remained steadfast in her line of questioning, demanding answers on behalf of the people of Nairobi.

During the interview, Okwara confronted Sakaja with evidence of his repeated failures to attend Senate committee meetings, citing instances where he had been fined for non-compliance.

Despite Sakaja's attempts to justify his absences as mere scheduling conflicts, Okwara pressed him on the implications of his neglect of duty, particularly in light of critical issues such as the Miradi explosion.

Sakaja's responses, while defensive, failed to assuage Okwara's concerns or those of the public. 

His assertions of having attended Senate meetings more than any other governor were met with skepticism, as Okwara and viewers alike scrutinized the evidence of his absenteeism presented during the interview.

The exchange underscored the broader issue of accountability in Kenyan politics. 

Okwara’s approach to journalism has earned her both admiration and criticism, as she continues to shine a light on the often opaque workings of government.

Here is a snippet of the interview

Okwara:  Where have you been, Governor? It seems everybody's looking for you, but nobody can find you.

Sakaja: All over the city. All right. Yes. But all over the world as well no no just one seven day trip but i'm here.

Okwara: Okay. Yeah. So Senate is looking for you. They can't seem to find you. Professional associations say they can't seem to find you either.

Sakaja: No, that is not true. How is this the case? That is not true. The Senate was aware of my trip last week. It's a normal trip. And the professional associations know where City Hall is and I'm always available to meet them.

Okwara: They say they've tried to reach you for over one year, Senator, and you have snubbed their calls or requests for a courtesy call. To talk about some of the issues of Nairobi, the Senate has also censured you.

Sakaja: Which association?

Okwara: Governor, the Architectural Association of Kenya's president, Florence Nyole, was here on Citizen Television, and she said, together with several other professional associations, they have tried to reach out to you for over a year and that you have snubbed that. The Senate itself says... You have snubbed them. In fact, Governor, you have been fined three times by different Senate committees. Where are you? Why can't people find you?

Sakaja: Well, that is not accurate. And I have messages between us, not just with the association, in fact, Florence herself, where I've spoken to her.  I think it's all a matter of scheduling. I've gone to the Senate more than 11 times, more than any governor in the last one year. And I don't think they don't know where to find me. Out of the 14 or so invites, I've only missed two invites in the last year. And I can tell you exactly which dates they've been.

Okwara: Okay, we can come back and talk about those invites specifically. But Governor, then some would say that your style of leadership is perhaps one that doesn't seem to respect those you report to as a public servant, Governor. Who do you report to? Who do you report to, Governor?

Okwara's track record of hard-hitting interviews, including previous confrontations with high-profile figures such as President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua on matters of corruption, has solidified her reputation as a formidable force in Kenyan media.