However, investigations by The Weekly Vision reveal that the governor may have rushed into taking the action against three mere field officers without carrying out proper investigations. It is worth noting that the interdicted field officers namely Michael Agoya, the Senior Superintendent of Building; Catherine Wairimu, an enforcement officer, Kasarani Sub-County; and Beatrice Kimathi, Chief Superintendent Building are junior field officers who report their work-related activities daily and weekly to their immediate supervisors who were spared by the governor
Following the unfortunate incident of a collapsed building that was still under construction at Season Village, Kasarani Sub County, Governor Johnson Sakajja has today Friday the 18th of November 2022 interdicted three officers who have been asked to show cause. The three were interdicted due to negligence of their duties, including inadequate supervision.
However, investigations by The Weekly Vision reveal that the governor may have rushed into taking the action against three mere field officers without carrying out proper investigations. It is worth noting that the interdicted field officers namely Michael Agoya, the Senior Superintendent of Building; Catherine Wairimu, an enforcement officer, Kasarani Sub-County; and Beatrice Kimathi, Chief Superintendent Building are junior field officers who report their work-related activities daily and weekly to their immediate supervisors and or senior bosses at the Planning Department at City Hall for further action.
It is therefore unfair for the governor, who was most likely misled into interdicting the three and one wonder why the three would be thrown under the bus and leave out those who bear the greatest responsibility. Investigations reveal that one of the officers by name John Osike who has been in Kasarani for a long time even during the entire period the construction of the ill-fated building was going on, has been left out of the disciplinary action.
Osike is a well-known wheeler dealer at City Hall’s Planning Department and is known for his dealings with building owners who seek approvals. In 2019 during the tenure of Governor Sonko following a collapse of a building at Precious Talanta School in Dagoretti, Osike was summoned by the DCI to record a statement and how he bought his way out remains a mystery. So the big question is who is covering up for Osike? He even publicly campaigned against Sakajja during the last elections.
Another officer who has been spared yet bears the greatest responsibility is Patrick Analo. He is the director of Planning who during the last general elections run a WhatsApp group campaigning for Governor Sakajja. Sources say Analo is a close Sakajja ally, he has also been shortlisted for the position of Chief Officer. It is being whispered that Sakajja had promised to reward him following his spirited campaigns among city hall staff.
Also spared is Stephen Gathuita Mwangi who is known within the corridors of City Hall as SG Mwangi. He is currently the Director of Lands and Urban Planning. SG Mwangi has been nominated by Sakajja to the powerful docket of CECM Built Environment and Urban Planning. Sources say Nairobi MCAs have vowed to reject his nomination.
One of our sources at city hall said ‘Why give junior officers monetary targets from no-compliant building owners then betray them when misfortune strikes out of the deal? God will never forgive evil regardless of the source. The public is watching and will not relent in keeping the vigil. Governor Sakajja, are you listening?
According to a document seen by The Weekly Vision, MCA’s claims that SG has been implicated in issues related illegal acquisition of public land. They claim SG has a huge appetite for land and has formed a ring of people around him that make it easy to take up and transfer land without following the Physical Planning Act and laid procedures.
Also spared because of her connections is Lillian Kieni who was deployed from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development to the position of Director of Roads and Transport as Chief Officer, Housing Estate Management and Slum Upgrading. Sources say the spared officers at City Hall have been visiting construction sites every week for unknown reasons. They have even gone further to give junior officers targets from none compliant buildings.
One of our sources at city hall said ‘Why give junior officers monetary targets from no-compliant building owners then betray them when misfortune strikes out of the deal? God will never forgive evil regardless of the source. The public is watching and will not relent in keeping the vigil. Governor Sakajja, are you listening?
Back to the Kasarani building, Sakajja needs to revisit the matter and withdraw the interdiction of the three officers and carry out serious investigations. During Sonko’s time, when such an eventuality occurred, only those with the greatest responsibility were interdicted.
A perfect example was the Dagoretti school tragedy where Sonko suspended two County Executive Committee Members. At the planning department, Sonko suspended County Chief Officer for Urban Planning, Director of Planning Compliance and Enforcement, Development Management Director, and Assistant Director of Enforcement.
Others who were suspended because they carried the greatest responsibilities were the Director, of Urban Planning, assistant director of Planning, Development Officer in charge of regularization of buildings/approval of architectural plans, Sub County Administration Officer and Ward Administrator.
