Geoffrey Mosiria has presented himself as a tough Nairobi County official determined to restore order in the city, but his recent enforcement actions are raising serious questions about where public service ends and abuse of power begins.
Mosiria has attracted attention through his aggressive, highly visible campaigns against what he considers indiscipline. In one recent incident captured on video, people were reportedly made to collect rubbish as punishment for actions such as failing to use a footbridge or using phones while crossing the road.
What may have been intended as a lesson in discipline has instead opened a wider debate about the powers of county officials and the rights of ordinary citizens.
The biggest concern is whether Mosiria has the authority to personally punish people in such a manner. Nairobi has established enforcement structures and officers whose responsibilities are defined by law. If an individual is suspected of breaking a law or county regulation, there are procedures that should be followed. An official cannot simply decide that someone deserves punishment and impose it on the spot.
That is where Mosiria’s approach becomes troubling. Public officials are not above the law, regardless of how popular their actions may become on social media. Enforcement must be carried out within the powers granted to an officer. Otherwise, a campaign presented as restoring order can easily turn into an abuse of authority.
There are also serious questions surrounding the recording and sharing of people subjected to these actions. Citizens have constitutional rights to privacy and dignity.
Public officials should therefore be careful when filming people during enforcement operations, particularly when the footage is later used for public consumption. Being accused of a minor offence does not automatically remove a person’s rights.
The issue of safety is equally important. Making members of the public handle rubbish without proper protective equipment can expose them to broken glass, sharp metal, medical waste and other dangerous materials. Waste collection is work that requires proper equipment and safety measures. Turning it into an improvised punishment could expose people to unnecessary risks.
Mosiria’s supporters may argue that Nairobi needs firm action because of persistent problems such as littering, jaywalking and general indiscipline. That concern is understandable. A city cannot function properly when residents ignore rules designed to protect them and others. But the need for order does not give public officials unlimited powers.
The real test of leadership is not how aggressively an official confronts citizens on the streets. It is whether he can help build a system that works even when he is not present. Nairobi needs properly trained enforcement officers, clear procedures, consistent penalties and public education. It does not need a situation where one official becomes the face, investigator and enforcer of every minor offence.
Mosiria’s growing public profile may make his actions look effective in the short term, but publicity should never replace legality. An official who wants to be taken seriously must understand that power comes with limits. The fact that members of the public may applaud tough action does not make every action lawful.
There is also a danger in normalising humiliation as a form of public administration. Today, a person may be forced to collect rubbish for crossing the road in the wrong place. Tomorrow, another official could decide on a different punishment for another offence. Without clear legal boundaries, such practices can quickly become arbitrary.
A city governed by rules should not depend on the personality or mood of one official. Mosiria may have earned attention through his confrontational style, but the real measure of his leadership will be whether his actions strengthen lawful governance or weaken it.
