Nairobi MCAs Call Out Governor Sakaja Over Increasing Graft, Sacking Of County Attorney

• Nairobi Governor Sakaja sacked County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka, sparking outrage from MCAs
• Kwamboka had earlier told PAC that finance and procurement ignored her advice on payments to law firms
• Sakaja accused county officials of working with cartels to frustrate his administration

Nairobi - The fallout between Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) has escalated following the unceremonious dismissal of County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka.

Sakaja locked Kwamboka out of office last week over unclear reasons causing outrage from a section of MCAs led by Abbas Khalif (South C), who has cautioned the governor against firing county staff at will.

"What Sakaja is doing is wrong. Why is he busy chasing senior officers who are just discharging their mandate?" Abbas posed.

Before her dismissal, Kwamboka had served as the county attorney for five years, appointed by former governor Mike Sonko.

Her sacking came in the wake of increasing public outrage over corruption, procurement malpractices and allegations of illegal payments, in which several law firms were involved.

Sakaja appointed Christine Ireri as the Acting County Attorney, a move that some ward reps have questioned and termed a “diversionary tactic”.

"Whether or not he fires the County Attorney, he should be ready to carry his own cross. We will not allow corruption at City Hall," he said.

Kwamboka had earlier told the county Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the County's finance and procurement departments had ignored her advice on payments related to law firms.

"I am frustrated with my job because when I authorise what to be paid, nothing happens," she said before the committee last week.

The County has been under sharp criticism for paying millions of shillings to law firms in what has been termed a “hot air” supply.

"The governor is trying to take us for a ride with his decisions because he knows something. We will get to the bottom of this matter," Abbas said.

Abbas said the dismissal of the county attorney will not help Sakaja to evade the wheels of justice and investigative agency.

On Tuesday, August 8, Sakaja accused a section of county officials of working with city cartels to frustrate his administration.

The county boss dismissed allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds at the county, claiming cartels were trying to fight back.

"I will stop cartels, thieves, and land grabbers…I am not a coward, or you think you elected a coward? Nairobi cannot be led by a coward and I want to assure that I will protect your property,” said Sakaja.

The governor, who appears to have fallen out with some ward reps, said some members of the assembly were out to grab county land for private use, insisting that his administration will not allow such to happen.

"We have no time for land grabbers. On Thursday I demolished a two-storey house that was being built on grabbed land by an MCA. The MCA was building his office when the said land was supposed to have a hospital," he said.

However, his critics at City Hall have vowed to put him to task over rampant corruption and irregular sacking of county employees.

The ward reps have even hinted at considering tabling an impeachment motion against Sakaja if he does not address the issues.