Broken online system forces developers into year-long waits while corrupt officials demand bribes to fast-track applications
Engineers practicing in Nairobi County have blown the whistle on a systematic corruption scheme within the county government’s building plans approval system, where rogue officials are exploiting technical glitches to extort bribes from desperate developers and investors.
In damning testimony before the Nairobi County Assembly’s planning committee, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) revealed how the county’s supposedly efficient online planning management system has become a tool for corruption, leaving genuine applicants stranded for up to 12 months while enriching corrupt officials.
System designed to fail
According to IEK President Shammah Kiteme, the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System—designed to streamline construction approvals—routinely goes blank after applicants submit their credentials and pay required fees, leaving them with no feedback on whether applications have been approved or rejected.
“Despite making the submission online, the contact person will tell you that the submission that you made was never received but they can fast-track the process for you,” Kiteme told the assembly committee. “Is this how an online system works? There should be a digital footprint for each of the applications.”
This systematic failure forces engineers and their clients into a tedious cycle of physical visits to City Hall offices, where corrupt officials lie in wait with demands for illegal payments.
The corruption scheme exposed
The corruption scheme operates with brazen simplicity: Officials claim online submissions were never received, then offer to “fast-track” applications in exchange for bribes.
The physical contact becomes necessary, engineers say, specifically to “exchange money so that the approval is carried out.”
Engineer John Robert Ogallo described how the delays are “scaring away investors” and causing local engineers to lose confidence and opportunities. “Some of them are also giving up on the investment that they want to carry out,” he told the assembly.
The contrast with other counties is stark. While approvals in counties like Machakos and Kiambu take just a few days, Nairobi applicants endure waits of up to 12 months—a delay that appears deliberately engineered to create opportunities for corruption.
Economic impact
The corruption is having severe economic consequences beyond individual projects. Investors are losing confidence in Nairobi’s construction sector, with some abandoning projects entirely due to the uncertainty and illegal demands for payments.
Engineers report that clients are giving up on construction projects after months of waiting, while the county’s reputation as a business destination suffers. The system’s failures particularly affect new registrations, making it difficult for emerging engineers to upload documents and establish their practices.
Official response awaited
County Assembly Planning Committee Chairperson Alvin Palapala has summoned county executives to answer the allegations. “We believe that this is deliberately delaying the process of approvals,” Palapala said, announcing plans to meet with county officials to demand explanations.
IEK President Kiteme has promised to provide the assembly with a list of specific officials involved in soliciting bribes, escalating what was already a serious institutional crisis.
System built for transparency, used for corruption
The Nairobi Planning and Development Management System was originally designed to bring transparency and efficiency to construction approvals, handling everything from building permits to land amalgamation and outdoor advertisements entirely online.
The system was supposed to process applications within days, eliminating the need for physical visits and reducing opportunities for corruption. Instead, it has become a sophisticated tool for extortion, with officials using technical “glitches” as cover for their illegal activities.
Engineers demand action
The engineers’ frustration has reached a breaking point after nearly a year of raising concerns with county executives without resolution. They cite unclear workflows, delayed payment confirmations, and absent feedback channels as evidence of deliberate system sabotage.
“Engineers within the county are unable to work with their clients, some of them have lost opportunities and projects are delayed,” Kiteme emphasized, calling for immediate intervention to restore system functionality and eliminate corruption.
The revelations come at a time when Nairobi County is positioning itself as East Africa’s premier business hub, making the reputational damage from these corruption allegations particularly concerning for the county’s economic future.
Nairobi, Kenya — What was meant to be a routine county delegation to Zanzibar has spiraled into a full-blown scandal engulfing Nairobi Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri, exposing a simmering mix of sexual misconduct allegations, unchecked favoritism, and a collapsing chain of professional decorum inside City Hall.
According to multiple sources within the Nairobi County Government, Muchiri’s office has become a hotbed of personal entanglements and administrative dysfunction — with a Zanzibar trip now spotlighting months of internal turmoil that had largely remained beneath the surface.
A love triangle at the heart of power
At the center of the controversy are two women — Kellen Muna, who was recently catapulted from a junior protocol role to the coveted post of personal assistant, and Peris Macharia, the office secretary. Both are reportedly entangled in a bitter rivalry, allegedly competing for Muchiri’s attention and influence in what insiders describe as a toxic love triangle.
“What used to be a professional space has turned into a daily soap opera,” said one senior officer familiar with the inner workings of the office, speaking to Kenya Insights on condition of anonymity. “It’s no longer about public service. It’s about who gets to sit closest to the DG.”
The Zanzibar showdown
The tension came to a head earlier this month during an official Nairobi County trip to Zanzibar.
Muna, conspicuously left off the official delegation list, reportedly traveled to the island at her own expense — raising eyebrows and deepening suspicions about her motives.
Peris Macharia, who was on the official itinerary, is said to have clashed openly with Muna during the trip. Witnesses within the delegation described a “tense and awkward” environment, with the office’s internal conflicts spilling into what was supposed to be a high-level diplomatic mission.
“It was shameful,” another staffer noted. “Instead of representing Nairobi’s interests, we were caught up in silent wars, side glances, and passive-aggressive jabs between the DG’s aides.”
Fast-track promotions, fading morale
Muchiri’s decision to replace long-serving personal assistant Solomon Kuria with Muna has further deepened discontent.
Kuria, who now holds a largely ceremonial role, is said to be disillusioned and frustrated.
“Her promotion had nothing to do with merit,” said another insider.
“It was a decision made behind closed doors, clearly influenced by personal ties, not performance.”
This sentiment is reportedly widespread within the office, with multiple staffers citing favoritism, micromanagement, and moral compromise as growing issues under Muchiri’s leadership.
Allegations of harassment and intimidation
Former staff members, including a protocol officer known only as “Too,” have accused Deputy Governor Muchiri of misconduct ranging from verbal abuse to inappropriate demands.
“He would show up to work intoxicated, lash out at junior officers, and make sexually suggestive remarks,” said Too, who claims he was dismissed after challenging the DG’s behavior. “It became unbearable.”
While City Hall remains officially silent on these claims, the mounting testimonials paint a picture of a workplace environment ruled by fear, favoritism, and fractured loyalties.
Calls for accountability grow louder
Civil society organizations and watchdog groups are now calling for urgent investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The allegations, if proven, could amount to gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of ethical codes for public servants.
“This isn’t just office gossip,” said Jane Wanjiru, a governance advocate with the Nairobi Accountability Network.
“These are serious claims that demand immediate attention. Nairobians deserve leaders who embody integrity, not ones embroiled in petty rivalries and power games.”
A leadership crisis
The scandal comes at a time when Nairobi is grappling with serious service delivery issues — from waste management to urban planning and transport chaos.
Critics now fear that political distractions and leadership failures are compromising the county’s ability to address its core mandates.
“It’s a tragic irony,” Wanjiru added. “While residents are begging for better drainage and housing, our leaders are playing out personal dramas in Zanzibar.”
What next for DG Muchiri?
As pressure mounts and more insiders speak out, Deputy Governor Muchiri could soon find himself facing not just public scrutiny but formal legal consequences. So far, his office has declined to comment.
But as the story continues to unravel, one thing is clear, the crisis in the DG’s office is no longer a private affair. It is now a matter of public accountability.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21, 2025 – The Freemasons Society has filed a lawsuit against Nairobi County Government, seeking compensation for damages following the closure of their hall in a dispute over Sh19 million in allegedly unpaid land rates.
In proceedings before High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye, the society accuses Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration of unlawfully encroaching on their Nyerere Road property despite an existing exemption from land rates.
Court documents filed by Rachier and Amollo Advocates detail how county officials forcibly entered the premises on May 14, demolished a gate, and posted a notice claiming ownership over unpaid rates.
The Freemasons called these actions “illegal and a violation of their constitutional rights.”
“The respondent, acting through its agents, unlawfully entered the petitioner’s property, used excessive force, and caused damage,” the court papers state.
The Masonic Trustees argue that as a registered philanthropic organization, they were granted exemption from land rates through Legal Notices 389 and 390 of 1990 – exemptions they maintain remain valid and have never been revoked.
According to their filing, Nairobi County had previously acknowledged this exemption and withdrawn similar notices in past incidents.
The society contends that the county’s conduct breaches Article 47 of the Constitution, which guarantees fair administrative action and requires public bodies to honor their prior decisions.
The Freemasons are seeking a court declaration that the county cannot demand rates it had previously waived, compensation for rights violations, and reimbursement of legal costs.
Justice Mwamuye has scheduled a hearing for May 29, 2025.
The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has launched a scathing attack on Nairobi County’s digital development approval system, claiming it has been “purposely made to fail” to facilitate corruption and bribery.
In a strongly-worded statement released yesterday, the engineering body alleges that Governor Johnson Sakaja’s much-touted Nairobi Planning & Development Management System (NPDMS) has become a tool for extracting millions from developers and engineers.
The IEK, representing over 12,000 engineers nationwide, claims that despite the establishment of the online platform, development applications face deliberate delays unless applicants pay bribes or make physical visits to county offices.
“The corrupt system is designed to manufacture desperation inducing the need to bribe to get the approvals and save face,” said Eng. Shammah Kiteme, President of IEK, in the statement.
According to engineers who spoke on condition of anonymity, approvals that should take weeks are deliberately stretched to as long as a year, forcing desperate professionals to pay bribes to move their projects forward.
“Our clients think engineers are incompetent and the credibility dent is a career threat to our members,” the IEK statement reads, highlighting how the situation is damaging the professional reputation of engineers.
The engineering body outlined specific failings of the digital system that they claim are not accidental but deliberately engineered to defeat the purpose of digitalization:
– Delayed or missing payment confirmations
– Unclear workflows and feedback channels
– Excessive manual interventions despite digital submissions
– Lack of integration with other key institutions
The IEK statement comes at a critical time when Nairobi is experiencing a construction boom, with ambitious infrastructure projects planned across the city. Engineers warn that corruption in the approval process not only slows development but potentially compromises public safety by allowing substandard projects to proceed through bribery.
The situation has reached a crisis point where the IEK is calling for intervention from multiple oversight agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
They’ve demanded a thorough audit of the approval process and accountability for those involved in corruption.
When contacted, Nairobi County officials declined to comment directly on the allegations but stated that they are “continuously working to improve service delivery across all departments.”
Urban planning experts note that inefficiencies in the development approval process have wider economic implications, driving up the cost of construction and housing in a city already struggling with affordability issues.
“Every day of delay costs developers money through financing charges, delayed returns, and inflation of construction materials,” said Dr. Jane Muthoni, an urban planning specialist. “These costs are ultimately passed on to Nairobi residents.”
The IEK has offered to work with the county to create a truly transparent and efficient approval system, emphasizing that public interest must be placed above individual gain.
As pressure mounts on Governor Sakaja’s administration to address these allegations, questions remain about how deeply the corruption extends within the county government and whether the digital system was compromised from its inception.
Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has found himself in the center of a complex land grabbing scandal of a 18-acre piece in Loresho valued over Sh2 billion.
According to reports, the governor finds himself in the circus of the 16-years old land tussle after offering hundreds of millions to buy the contested land from a controversial owner. It was recently featured in the news when the Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome attempted to intervene but was kicked out by the purported owner and his goons.
Nairobi businessmen Ashok Rupshi Shah and Hitenkumar Raja claim to own the land however former Nairobi provincial administrator Davis Nathan Chelogoi is also claiming the same piece and has been occupying it.
History of the land
As of March, three parties were dangling three different title deeds, all claiming ownership of the same property. The courts have dealt with the authenticity of two of the titles and concluded that the one held by Ashok Rupshi Shah and Hitenkumar Amritlal Raja is genuine. Judges dismissed the one of Jacob Juma, who died in 2016. Juma’s widow and administrator of his estate, Miriam, says she will take the matter to the Appellate Court.
Slain businessman Jacob Juma assassinated in 2016.
She is represented by city lawyer and former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi. Then there is the third and most recent title held by Mr Chelogoi.
Ashok bought grabbed land
Deep in the scandal, court documents seen by Kenya Insights show businessman Ashok had bought the controversial land from other fraudulent businessmen.
Mr. Shah Kirankumar Dharamshi and Mr. Dipti Kiran Shah were charged before the chief’s magistrate court in kibera on 15/10/2008 with the offences of forging a title deed (forgery) contrary to section 350(1) of the penal code, making a false document without authority contrary to section 357 of the penal code and obtaining 33,000,000 from yourself Ashok Shah by falsely pretending they were in a position to sell you the land in question contrary to section 313 of the penal code.
Sakaja
According to reports by a local newspaper, governor Sakaja had entered into a deal with Mr. Chelogoi to buy from him the contested land for Sh900 million. The deal was made on April 18, 2023 and through Sakaja’s company Ayoti Ltd.
At the time Sakaja was making the deal, the property was a subject of a court dispute and as Mr Chelogoi who in the agreement is referred to as the vendor had already filed an application for joinder as an interested party in a case pitting Ashok Shah and Hitenkumar Raja against Juma.
The application made on Aug 3, 2022 raises eyebrows as to why the governor entered into a deal with Chelogoi knowing well the matter was before the court.
The amount agreed (Sh900M) was also half the current market value begging the question why and the speed.
According to the registrar’s records seen by Kenya Insights, Ayoti Ltd was incorporated on January 13, 2020 and has not declared a physical location, according to Business Registration Service records.
The governor is the sole shareholder with 10 shares. He is also the only director.
Ayoti Ltd records.
In March, a Milimani Court directed that Chelogoi be charged for the offence of fraudulent acquisition of a Multi-billion shillings property located at Loresho, Nairobi.
Trial Magistrate Dolphina Alego said Chelogoi has never appeared in court to take plea as directed.
She said the court will visit Chelogoi either in hospital as claimed by his defense lawyer or wherever he will be for the purpose of plea taking.
The Magistrate said the application made by defense counsel professor Tom Ojienda on grounds that his client is unwell and subsequent production of medical documents can no longer be entertained by the court.
Chelogoi has been fighting over the ownership of the land since 2009 but lost the fight when the Environment and Land Court ruled that it was grabbed by late businessman Jacob Juma in 2008.
The court ruled in 2022 that Juma, who died in May 2016, obtained documents to the land fraudulently.
The latest lend scandal adds to the many allegations of corruption that has marred the governor who has only been in office for two years. He has been accused of allegedly siphoning county funds and buying off properties overseas including the U.S. and Dubai.
Questions have been raised as to how he has been able to raise billions enough to buy such properties given his salary that doesn’t come close to buying a sensible fraction of what he owns.
In related matters, others are now questioning the legitimacy of wealth accumulated by public officials who seek to be in a rush to amass wealth, “Cabinet Ministers and Governors earns about Kshs. 2m per month; total Kshs. 120m in Five Years. That is the maximum they’ll earn in FIVE YEARS. But in less than two years in office, Ministers & Governors are buying multi-billion properties locally & abroad. When will EACC arrest them?” Lawyer Donald Kipkorir posed.
Former Presidential candidate Prof Ole Kiyapi termed the accumulation as theft, “Such primitive accumulation of wealth (blatant theft) by public officials is an indictment on the Kenya soul – EACC operates peripherally, unable to dig deep and route our official corruption. Deals orchestrated through scandalous procurements is our bane! Ain’t rocket science!”
Nairobi county government estimates to spend at least one billion shillings in alleviating the effects of El Niño rains that the weatherman has predicted to start anytime this month.
On disaster preparedness during El Niño, the county government is in the process of purchasing inflatable and motorboats ahead of El Niño in the next one week apart from offering psychosocial support and counselling to not only those affected by climate and ecological grief but also the county staff on the front-line.
People living along river banks in Nairobi could be severely affected by flooding like has been the case in the past.
The County Government has also been busy mapping out 500 El Niño hotspots in Nairobi and adds that about 5000 structures erected on riparian land will be affected by flooding.
According to Bramwel Simiyu, the Chair of Nairobi county El Niño taskforce, they have identified alternative shelters for those living on riparian lands susceptible to flooding, churches, social halls and schools where they will be accommodated. One such shelter is Joseph Kang’ethe Hall in Kibra.
The county says that their interventional supplies will cater for approximately 200,000 people who we think will be directly affected.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations into suspected fraudulent payment of hundreds of millions of shillings by the county government of Nairobi for goods never supplied and services not rendered.
DCI says the nine listed firms are believed to have been used in a money laundering scheme and fraudulent payments.
In a letter dated July 21, the Director of DCI’s Investigations Bureau (IB) David Birech wrote to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja demanding a list of tender documents, requisitions by user department, award contracts, delivery and inspection reports and all local purchase orders issued to profiled nine companies believed to have been used to siphon the money.
“This office is investigating a case of suspected money laundering in which Nairobi County Government is alleged to have fraudulently made payments to companies which did not render services,” Birech wrote.
“We further request to assign officers who have knowledge of the various processes listed above to assist us with information on their roles and record statements to that effect,” the letter added.
Collusion with officers
Preliminary investigations reveal that various section heads colluded with procurement officers, contractors and the County Treasury officials to siphon hundreds of millions from the public coffers.
The nine companies are Larsen Investment Company, Burasha General Suppliers Limited Tweem Limited, Future Link Limited, and Cloud Mobile Technologies Limited. Others are AR Pharmaceuticals Limited, Instabul Investment Limited, Ramecon Engineering Limited and Brigit West Limited.
DCI’s probe comes just a month after the Controller of Budget (CoB) Margaret Nyakang’o declined to approve Sh1.5billion expenditure requisitions they made to pay legal fees and development expenditure without proper providing supportive documents.
Nairobi County government had made an exchequer requisition of Sh2 billion to 19 law firms as pending bills without proper documentation. City Hall further made an additional clearance request of Sh379million categorised as development expenditure of building and construction supplies claimed to be ‘air supply’.
“The schedule of 19 firms to be paid does not include the invoices’ dates; therefore, it is difficult to ascertain whether they are pending bills or related to works done and invoiced in the current financial year. Please, therefore, revise the schedule to include the date of the invoices and attached copies of the payment vouchers for the 19 firms,” the CoB wrote. The letter, dated June 27, Ref: COB/NBI/001/171(11), was addressed to Sakaja through the Finance and Economic Planning County Executive Committee Member Charles Kerich.
“Further, it is difficult to match the proposed payments with the pending bills report earlier presented to this office,” the CoB added.
COB requisitions
Sakaja’s administration made the two requisitions on June 19 (Sh562,124,660) and another amounting to Sh509,152,645.
Nyakang’o instructed the County Treasury to provide the basis for the legal fees, status of each court case including copies of judgment where applicable.
Also, the CoB’s office demanded a clear breakdown detailing the criteria used in the selection of the said payments, the recommended ‘first-in-first-out’ method used in identifying the bills and information on whether the proposed payment is a partial payment or a final payment to the legal firms.
The payments had also been blocked through a law suit. According to documents filed in court, Sakaja’s administration owes various law firms more than Sh21billion as pending bills as of January 2023.
Documents filed in court show the law firms to be paid include Makallah Theuri & Company Advocates (Sh60million), L.N Nyaribo & Company (Sh50million), Okatch & Partners (70million), Okubasu Munene & Kazungu Advocates (Sh30million), Gikunda Miriti & Company (Sh67million) and Masire & Mogusu (Sh27.5million). Others are Anne Munene & Company (Sh34million), Koceyo & Company Advocates (Sh43.8million), Roba & Associates (51.8million), Ummi Bashir & Company Advocates (Sh32million), J.W Wachira Advocates (Sh58million), Momanyi and Associates (Sh91million), Jamal Bake & Associates (Sh47million) and Bespoke Insurance Brokers Limited (Sh28million).
Nairobi County Assembly is never short of drama. Former speaker Beatrice Elachi after endless fights, threw in the towel and resigned, Majority Whip Abdi Guyo has had his share of fight, a veteran in City Hall life, he was thrown out of his position before he got reinstated. The two leaders haven’t been in good books with each other for long. It all began the moment Elachi took over as the speaker assuming a managerial position and having a bigger say in the operations of city hall, at that time Guyo was in the assembly’s board and calling shots, this was a classic case of putting two rival bulls under same shade.
Their rivalry has played has played openly in the public arena. In 2019, Guyo sponsored a motion to impeach Elachi, it sailed and only to be reinstated later through a court order. Guyo ganged up with his goons and stormed into Elachi’s office in a well documented fiasco.
In the heights of the troubles, the then governor Mike Sonko intervened and eliminated Guyo as the majority leader.
Sonko in his dismissal letter said Guyo was a predicament in his implementation of jubilee policies and that his sustained attacks and intimidation towards the speaker and county staff could no longer stand.
Sonko has effectively nominated, Maringo Hamza MCA, Hon. Mark Ndung’u to take over from Guyo as the majority leader. Guyo fought his ways and was later reinstated by Raphael Tuju, sources privy to the intense lobbying leading to the reprieve confides that the Sec Gen gave in after getting his hands greased. Tables have since turned on Tuju, he’s facing imminent ouster from the jubilee party.
Guyo has had run ins with the authorities, having been in City Hall for over a decade since he started as a councilor, has a wide scope of networks, the man now eyeing a parliamentary seat has amassed wealth that doesn’t align with his salaries, Guyo has been a subject of investigations over suspicions of corruption but has escaped the dragnets thanks to his networks in the investigating bodies.
Guyo has been under EACC investigations in which Investigators found a direct link between Guyo and Flexilease Limited, one of the garbage collection companies implicated in a scandal that EACC was investigating how money from the bank accounts of the garbage collection companies ended up in Sonko’s private bank accounts.
Flexilease was being investigated for receiving payments for services not delivered and making the Nairobi County government pay for ghost workers. Guyo, a close ally of National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, is also being investigated over a scam involving public toilets in the city. He is accused of working with shadowy businessman identified as Abbas Khalifa to grab all public toilets.
According to sources close to the investigations, Guyo and Abbas pocket at least Shs 1 million each every week from the public toilets. Investigators were also probing the source of Guyo’s sudden wealth. He is said to be building a huge shopping mall in Isiolo and has properties spead across the city. One of our preying birds is telling us he recently bought an apartment in Buru Buru for one of his concubines, a journalist attached to City Hall.
Guyo recently got mentioned in Covid-millionaires saga in which he was accused of money meant for the vulnerable.
The fresh scam involved distribution of relief food to vulnerable families in Nairobi’s informal settlements as a cushion during the COVID-19 pandemic an idea of controversial Matopeni MCA Abdi Guyo. The scandal would see Sh84 million paid to shadowy companies associated with him and Kananu.
Six shadowy companies were paid for the supply of foodstuffs and other necessities but it was flagged by MCAs who alleged that nothing was supplied and money pocketed allegedly by Guyo and associates.
The foodstuffs that were to be distributed in the feeding programme include sugar, rice, loaves of bread and long-life milk, maize and wheat flour as well as other items such as blankets, sanitary pads and basins.
‘I want to confirm that this is a COVID-19 billionaires scandal since some of the slums listed to have benefited from the feeding programme never received the said foodstuffs,” said one of the ODM MCAs when we contacted him.
Here is a breakdown of the monies paid to the six companies associated with Guyo and his cronies at City Hall.
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We also conducted a search of the companies at the Registrar of Companies and we confirmed that the six companies are linked to Guyo and his cronies at City Hall. Here are the results of the CR12 from the companies.
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According to sources at the Nairobi City County Assembly, it would be difficult for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to prosecute individuals at the center of the scam since the EACC Deputy CEO and Director of Investigations Mohamud Abdi is a close associate of Guyo in their get rich business deals at City Hall.
Sonko on several occasions accused Abdi of being corrupt and wanted him stopped from investigating him. There are videos that were floated online allegedly of Guyo taking bribe stashed in a gunny bag to Abdi. At the time, Guyo was leading the battalion in the impeachment of Sonko. Sonko alleged that Guyo with his close ties with Abdi ganged up to frustrate and implicate him in dirty deals. Sonko in the same bad blood had accused Abdi of colluding with cartels to grab a land something he attributed to his tribulations with EACC.
“I would generally have a problem with individuals misusing public offices to cover-up for their crimes, while at the same time using intimidation, witch-hunt and arm-twisting tactics against those genuinely committed to fighting corruption and impunity in Kenya.” Sonko said when he accused Abdi of using his position as EACC commissioner to fraudulently facilitate grabbing of a land to his friend.
“In May 2014, one JOHNSON NYAGA KIBIRA (a former Nairobi County employee) attempted to build a Boundary Wall and a Gatehouse on Land Reference Number NAIROBI/BLOCK 103/793 in Mugoya Estate on Muhoho Road, South C which is a public utility plot earmarked for ECDE Centre/Playground for children in Mugoya Estate. When Mugoya Estate Residents reached out to me then as the Senator of Nairobi County, and we confronted the land grabber, we found that he purported to have a title for the land issued by County Council of Nairobi on 20th September 2012 although the land had been a playground for children since the estate was built.”
“On 27th May, 2014, we agreed with the residents that they report the matter to EACC and in a letter on the same date, Catherine Njiru of P.O. Box 59041-00200Nairobi wrote on behalf of the Estate Residents to EACC requesting for investigations into allegations of suspected fraudulent/irregular acquisition of the public land Plot Number NAIROBI/BLOCK 103/793 in South C. Evidence shows that the allegations of grabbing of that land were true and merited investigations as a matter of urgency.”
“On 16th July, 2014, EACC Director of Investigations Abdi A. Mohamud responded to Catherine Njiru vide letter Ref. No. EACC. 6/16/1 Vol, XXVIII (69)-46286noting receipt of the letter dated 27th May 2014. The letter acknowledged the allegations of suspected fraudulent/irregular acquisition of public land and promised to take the necessary steps to verify the same to inform action, as need be. Interestingly, the Director of Investigations also advised the Complainant that she “may seek further intervention from the National Land Commission” even though she had indicated it as a public land.”
“However, despite the undertaking, Abdi A. Mohamud as EACC Director of Investigations refused to investigate the complaint of Catherine Njiru at all, contrary to section 25 of the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003 which makes it mandatory for EACC to investigate every complaint unless it dismisses the same in writing. It took another report to EACC 4 years later on 23rd July 2018 for the Commission to launch inquiry into the grabbing of the subject plot.”
“According to the intelligence I have, instead of investigating the complaint upon receipt, the EACC Director of Investigations Abdi A. Mohamud immediately used the information obtained from the whistle blower on the grabbing of the public land in South to appropriate the land for himself and his personal friend Isaack Abdullahi Ibrahim and the same plot had been transferred to him by 11th December 2014.“ Said Sonko in an explosive expose.
Fast forward to recent updates, while the former speaker left City Hall to become the Gender and Public Service CAS, troubles from the first have never stopped following her.
In the latest frenzy, the assembly adopted a report that recommended investigative bodies to probe Elachi for violation of the law and abuse office by usurping the powers of the County Assembly Service Board where she served as a chairperson board.
In its finding, the report suggested that promotion and recruitments of staff that took place in 2020 during Elachi’s tenure were against the law and were declared null and void.
However, Elachi defended herself and noted that it was pure malice for the assembly to call her ‘rogue’ as she was finishing a promotion process initiated by the late Alex Magelo who was her predecessor.
“Never has it been on record that I stole money while I was the Speaker. Everything I did is on record and It was not Elachi as a person but as the chairperson of the county assembly board. This is pure malice,” Elachi added.
Abdi Guyo who’s once again spearheading the calls for investigations on the speaker, insisted that Elachi is solely responsible for the irregular appointments.
”“The report is shocking and it reveals that everything was done following a decision by one person and not the board. This is an abuse of power,” Majority leader said.
Kenya Insights has obtained copies of the document that the scandal emanates from and can authoritatively say the decision for the promotions was approved and signed by the board members and not an individual as alleged by Guyo.
Journalists covering the City Hall scandals have become biased according to observations. Our birds say they’ve been properly compromised by the cartels to tell stories that are only favorable to them and in pushing convenient narratives. Brown envelopes have become part of the daily menu.
We’ve also obtained documents showing that Deloitte Kenya, was contracted by the County to research and recommend structural changes at City Hall who would improve service deliver. Deloitte was paid Sh5M.
To implement the recommendations, 2 more board members had to be recruited since it wasn’t fully constituted as recommended by the law. This recruitment process was presided over by the Public Service Commission and Strathmore University. The 2 members formed the part of directors who approved the questioned promotions.
Elachi is now headed to the courts to sue the Nairobi County Assembly for defamation.
Elachi said the assembly has continued to tarnish her name despite her willingly leaving the institution 14 months ago.
SPEAKER: Former Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi.
In what perhaps she saw coming, Elachi who terms all this political witch-hunt and settling scores, knew Guyo and alike would at one point come after her in leaving office and she left office with all copies of files she appended her signature for defense.
“We must do better than what the men do in this political arena. When I was resigning I made sure I had all copies that had my signatures and walked away with them.” Elachi said when she met women aspirants and the media at an event hosted by Journalists for Human Rights.
Elachi did this so that when someone tried to accuse her of corruption or any office related misappropriation, she has the documents to back her up.
“I realized that when you don’t steal money people will create stories like abuse of office. When you have documentation, you leave them to create the story then you come with your file and ask them to show you the abuse of office claims,” she said.
As accusations continue fly around, Guyo who’s said to be a supremo in City Hall, has become so powerful that the General Badi isn’t able to contain him, the two are said to be close together and coming from same ethnic group, Abdi who’s also close to a relative to the president and MCA, has managed to get into the good books with the president who is likely unaware of how dirty Guyo moves. Badi vowed to dismantle the cartels of city hall but that’s a wet dream.
So entrenched in looting public funds that Kenya Insights has learnt that Committee members are bribed with unwarranted trips, stipends. Recently, budgeting committee traveled to Turkey to discuss how to pay pending bills and budget for the country. This is something they could easily do in the boardroom or an hotel in the city or if it’s the itch of traveling, Mombasa or Naivasha would do, but no, public funds must be misused, such trips out members at the mercy of leaders to support their agendas before the table.
We’re also aware that the same committee is planning for a similar trip to Dubai to further misuse public funds while normal Nairobian thrive in burden. In the chain of looting, the devolution ministry officials who give approval to the trips are roped in. We’re told for every approval/per member, Sh5,000 bribe is given.
In the middle of the employment chaos, Guyo is accused of irregularly recruiting his relatives including a brother-in-law, cousin. Former clerk Jacob Ngwele who’s a close associate of Guyo is also accused of securing a job for one of the officers in investigative agencies and who was investigating the Trip by an associate Abass to Dubai. This he allegedly did to stop the Investigations.
In the corruption web at City Hall is a lady only identified to us as Nancy who is married to a banker with Central Bank, when Ngwele and team lost control of accessing funds , the husband played a big role in accessing the cash. Another lady who previously worked for City Hall and now with Judge Warsame who gave a favorable and controversial ruling in favor of Ngwele it remains a puzzle how in the ruling Warsame incorporated Edward Gichana who wasn’t part of the suit neither applied to be enjoined. Ruling rose suspicions and foul play. The web is wide and suspect.
It is an intricate web, what we’ve provided is just a shallow grave, in subsequent articles we shall dive in deeper. For now, a multi agency investigation should be initiated to unearth the truths and separate facts from fictions.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and City Hall have launched a joint crackdown targeting home and office blocks belonging to landlords who have defaulted on paying land rates with some defaulters already served with warning letters should they fail to offset their rates.
“You are supposed to have paid up all the rate fees for the plot, including any arrears owed to the Nairobi County Government. The County Government Finance Act of 2015 mandates the authority [KRA] to repossess any land property the owner defaults rate payment and reallocate it to the deserving,” a notice pinned on one of the properties read.
Revenue Act of 2015 was amended in 2018 in a move that gave more powers to the County government of Nairobi to recover land rates from rental income to get the Sh15 billion that was owed to them then.
The amendment of the of the Act was a also aimed at easing access to property whose owners had defaulted on land-rate payment by allowing City Hall to temporarily repossess such homes and offices to recover the debt owed from monthly rents.
KRA Commissioner James Mburu [p/courtesy]Analysis by the national government discovered that 90% of land and property owners in Nairobi had defaulted on paying their rates after the county government failed to lower the number of defaulters through closure of office blocks and waiving penalties for defaulters.
City Hall in February 2020 opted to rope in KRA to help them improve revenue collection from such properties where the taxman will now inspect all revenue streams and manage the taxes through the normal process of assessment, payment, accounting, remission and enforcement through both compliance and debt recovery.
KRA announced that taxpayers would benefit from a partial relief on penalties and interest on the undisclosed taxes, in a programme initiated on January 1 and runs to December 31, 2023.
The programme dubbed Voluntary Tax Disclosure Programme (VTDP) was introduced through the Finance Act, 2020 and it aims to grant relief on penalties and interest on any tax liability disclosed in respect to the period between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2020.
Nairobi County raked in Sh1.3 billion from fire inspection certificate, housing rent, and land rates but it recorded only Sh3.9 billion in own-source revenue in the six months under focus against a target of Sh6.4 billion.
