Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has openly blamed his demotion on his confrontations with what he calls “influential” city cartels. Speaking on Monday, December 1, Mosiria revealed that his transfer from the county’s environmental docket to citizen engagement and customer services was not a surprise.
He said the move was a direct result of his firm enforcement measures against unlawful developments that clashed with the interests of powerful figures he described as untouchables.
Mosiria insists he only fears God, not people, and remains committed to serving Nairobi residents despite his new role.
Mosiria Demotion Linked to Clashes With Powerful City Hall Cartels
According to Mosiria, his transfer was inevitable due to repeated confrontations with influential people over illegal constructions.
“I indeed trampled on those who are untouchable. I trampled on the untouchables until some of them got irritated by me, but I do not fear man; I only fear God, who is powerful,” Mosiria stated.
He highlighted that he had stopped multiple unlawful constructions, including developments owned by wealthy and powerful individuals. These actions, he said, attracted heavy backlash from those with strong connections in the city.
“Some people were building on the river, and many of them had big clubs that were shouting at the people. We went and stopped them, and before I was taken away, I remember stopping a big club that had not been touched,” Mosiria recalled.
Enforcement Actions Caused Tension
Mosiria’s hands-on approach included closing down illegal clubs and private developments. He stressed that these decisions were driven by public interest and safety concerns, not political agendas.
He conducted routine inspections, shutting down businesses and residential buildings that violated regulations. Mosiria argued that his work was necessary to maintain Nairobi’s environment and protect the public from unlawful constructions.
His firm stance put him at odds with influential groups, and he implied that this friction played a key role in his demotion. “The office in the environment sector showed its importance when people saw the service it offered to the residents,” Mosiria explained.
Demotion Follows County Leadership Reshuffle
Mosiria’s move came two weeks after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja reshuffled county leadership. In the notice dated November 18, 2025, Hibram Otieno, previously overseeing medical facilities, replaced Mosiria in the environment docket.
Despite his demotion, Mosiria expressed commitment to his new role in citizen engagement and customer services. He dismissed any notion that the transfer would diminish his focus on Nairobi residents, emphasizing that the shift would not deter his performance.
“I am still working to help the people. When I entered the environment, people thought it was a small office, but when I got there, they saw its size and importance. I look at the office in terms of the service that we will offer to the people,” he said.
Mosiria Remains Defiant
Even after leaving the environment docket, Mosiria has remained vocal about his enforcement record. He stressed that he acted in the public interest and was undeterred by threats or opposition from powerful figures.
His insistence on tackling unlawful developments made him unpopular with certain influential groups in Nairobi. Yet, he remains confident that his work has had a lasting impact, especially on protecting the city’s rivers, public spaces, and legal compliance in construction.
Observers note that Mosiria’s demotion highlights the tension between county officials enforcing regulations and powerful city stakeholders who may resist accountability. The move has sparked debate on the influence of private interests in county affairs and the challenges faced by officers who pursue strict enforcement measures.
Wrapping Up
Mosiria’s case underscores the complexity of governance in Nairobi, where enforcement often clashes with political and business interests. While some view his demotion as a setback, Mosiria frames it as a continued opportunity to serve the public, albeit in a different capacity.
He remains a visible figure in Nairobi’s county administration, committed to improving services for residents, and has vowed to continue advocating for lawful developments and citizen-focused policies.
