Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Suspends 200 County Staff in Crackdown

The county government of Nairobi has sent 200 staffs on a compulsory leave to allow investigations to be conducted.

In a letter, Governor Mike Sonko ordered the employees drawn from lands, rates, legal, debt collection and urban planning departments to leave office by October 2nd.

Sonko further sent home 15 staffs accused of being accomplices of a land grabbing cartel believed to be taking over property from owners whose leases have expired.

Top officials sent on a leave include Legal Services Director Karisa Iha, senior lawyers Nyagara Nyamweya, Violet Oyangi, Evans Mogire, John Ombogi and principal counsel Newton Mungai.

“You are hereby instructed to proceed to compulsory leave with immediate effect and not later than October 2nd, until you are recalled to the office. Please note that non-compliance will be dealt with according to the laid down regulations,” the letters signed by acting County Secretary Leboo Morintat said.

The county believes that the affected departments of knowingly manipulated documents of prime properties by erasing evidence which proved that owners had cleared rates.

However, Kenya County Government Workers Union, Nairobi chapter has vowed to have their members boycott duty until the suspended staff are reinstated, arguing that the county sent them on leave with no valid reasons.

“We demand for the immediate opening of the locked offices.The said letters should be revoked forthwith. We further demand that you stop sending rogue officers/strangers to harass and intimidate our members working in the entire Nairobi County,” said Secretary Boniface Waweru.