Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja faces a storm of criticism from Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and city enforcement officers following a controversial reshuffle in the Security and Compliance Department: one of City Hall’s most sensitive and lucrative portfolios.
At the heart of the dispute is the reassignment of Tony Kimani, former Chief Officer for Security and Compliance. His transfer to the Social Services Department, despite extensive qualifications in security and law enforcement, has sparked concern across the county. Eva Wangechi Wairiuko has been appointed Acting Chief Officer for Security and Compliance.
Insiders claim that Wairiuko, previously Deputy Director of Operations in the same department, lacks the academic and professional credentials required for the role: she is reportedly neither a trained enforcement officer nor experienced in security management. This has sparked widespread backlash from colleagues and stakeholders.
In contrast, Kimani’s credentials are formidable: he holds a degree in Criminology and a Bachelor of Arts from Egerton University, a diploma in Forensic Criminal Investigation from the Kenya Institute of Criminal Justice, and a diploma in Public Prosecution from the Kenya Institute of Administration.
Critics question why a seasoned security expert like Kimani was reassigned to a department where his expertise is less relevant, while someone without a security background was appointed to lead this critical unit. Insiders allege that Kimani’s removal was orchestrated by well-connected cartels seeking to regain control of the inspectorate department. During his tenure, Kimani reportedly disrupted entrenched corruption networks by closing loopholes used to collect illicit protection fees from business owners.
The alleged system involved a flow of illegal collections: enforcement officers on the ground gathered payments, which moved up the ranks, from ward commanders to sub-county commanders and finally to the Chief Officer. The funds were then distributed to senior officials and cartel operatives, reaching the Governor’s office via the County Secretary and Chief of Staff.
Kimani dismantled this shadowy system, earning the support of many enforcement officers who viewed him as a reformer restoring integrity to a broken department. They claim his transfer resulted directly from his refusal to engage with these corrupt networks.
Insiders assert that Wairiuko’s appointment is no accident: she is viewed as a more “cooperative” figure, willing to reintroduce the illicit revenue streams cut off under Kimani’s leadership. As the controversy deepens, some MCAs are demanding answers, insisting that Kimani’s expertise is vital to City Hall’s security mandate and ill-suited to the Social Services docket.
With public trust and internal morale at stake, all eyes are on Governor Sakaja, who must choose between appeasing powerful interests or restoring order to a department long plagued by corruption.
