Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is once again at the center of a major scandal, this time using the formation of Green Nairobi as a front to expand his grip on power and enrich his close allies.
The new garbage collection firm, which he claims was created to eliminate cartels, is now being exposed as yet another corrupt scheme designed to benefit those within his inner circle.
The controversial move to privatize garbage collection without public participation has sparked outrage, with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and Nairobi residents questioning the legality, transparency, and motivation behind the sudden creation of Green Nairobi.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a past church service. Photo: The Star Source: Facebook
Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve has boldly exposed Sakaja’s latest deception, stating that the governor strategically reshuffled his Cabinet to install his allies in key positions before unveiling Green Nairobi.
The entire plan, according to Munuve, was designed to create a new cartel under Sakaja’s control.
“What the governor has done is kill one cartel to create a bigger one. The creation of Green Nairobi was all premeditated.
The last Cabinet reshuffle placed his friends in crucial sectors like Environment and Finance, ensuring full control over the garbage collection racket,” Munuve declared.
He further pointed out that the delay in confirming Green Army employees is proof that Sakaja’s administration is scheming to bring in more politically connected individuals, likely leading to more ghost workers and inflated payrolls draining taxpayer money.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a past function. Photo: NTV Kenya Source: X
Sakaja has been accused of sidelining the Nairobi County Assembly, completely bypassing the elected representatives of the people.
MCAs have decried his blatant disregard for proper procedures, with Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai branding it an outright abuse of power.
“The Assembly is supposed to oversee such major decisions, yet Sakaja operates like a dictator. He is privatizing public services to benefit his associates, leaving Nairobians to suffer. This is corruption at its finest,” Alai blasted.
Alai emphasized that rather than forming a new corrupt company, the county should focus on implementing better policies to eliminate the existing garbage collection cartels.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja gestures after a past political rally. Photo: The Star Source: Facebook
Governor Sakaja has desperately defended the creation of Green Nairobi, claiming it was established under the Nairobi County Corporations Act of 2019.
However, investigations reveal that the county’s majority stake in the company is nothing but a front, as Sakaja’s trusted allies are among its key shareholders.
Records from the Registrar of Companies show that Nairobi County Government holds 4,850 shares in Green Nairobi, while the remaining 150 shares are conveniently distributed among five individuals—County Ministers Maureen Njeri (Green Nairobi) and Charles Kerich (Finance), County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria, and Chief Officer for Finance Asha Abdi. All are closely linked to Sakaja.
Nairobi South MCA Waithera Chege has slammed this governance structure as a recipe for corruption, pointing out that officeholders should not double as shareholders in a public company.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja speaking during a past event. Photo: Sakaja Source: Facebook
“If these individuals are reshuffled, will their names be changed at the Registrar of Companies every time? This is a sham and a direct way for Sakaja’s people to siphon public funds,” she questioned.
This scandal is not the first time Sakaja’s administration has been caught in financial mismanagement.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s latest financial report has exposed massive irregularities in garbage collection payments, with millions of taxpayer money mysteriously disappearing.
“The County Executive paid Ksh 175 million for the hire of heavy equipment. However, records show that over Ksh 6.5 million was overpaid due to discrepancies in the invoicing and hourly rates,” Gathungu’s report revealed.
This is just a small fraction of the unchecked corruption that has flourished under Sakaja’s leadership, as Nairobi’s waste crisis continues to worsen despite increased spending.
Nairobi generates over 1.2 million tonnes of waste annually, yet much of it remains uncollected. MCAs have revealed that in many cases, they are forced to pay out of pocket to ensure garbage collection in their wards because Sakaja’s administration refuses to act unless contractors bribe their way into payments.
