The dispute at City Hall centers on claims that senior staff in the Inspectorate Department were moved or promoted in ways that raised questions about fairness and ethnic balance.
The Nairobi City Workers Union wrote to the Nairobi County Public Service Board (NCPSB) alleging irregular demotions and promotions in the department. The concern was sharpened by a departmental list of senior officers that showed only eight tribes represented at senior level, with Kikuyus and Kalenjins accounting for the largest share.
According to the list, Kikuyus held 14 senior posts, Kalenjins 6, Kisii 5, Luos 3, while Kamba, Luhya and Maasai had 2 officers each. Somali officers were listed at 1.
Pumwani Ward MCA Paul Ndung’u also said some senior officers, including directors of departments, had been moved to junior positions under unclear circumstances. Speaking before the County Assembly Labour and Social Welfare committee on Tuesday, he said he had evidence to support his claims.
“I have facts including screenshots and me asking the question before the Assembly was not a joke,” said Mr Ndung’u.
In a statement request filed the previous month, Ndung’u asked the committee to establish what led to the demotions and what criteria were used in the promotion and demotion of officers, including those serving in acting roles.
But Nairobi chief officer for security compliance Tito Kilonzi rejected the allegations when he appeared before the committee chaired by MCA Peter Wanyoike on Tuesday. He said the changes were routine redeployments, not demotions.
“As far as we are concerned, none of our officers have been demoted to a junior position. We are aware people have misinterpreted the redeployment we have periodically undertaken, more especially of the senior officers to mean demotion, of which it is not,” said Mr Kilonzi.
Kilonzi added that the redeployments were carried out without malice or prejudice. He said the department considered academic qualifications or training, exceptional performance and experience when assigning officers to different duties.
The row left City Hall facing fresh scrutiny over how senior appointments and transfers are handled inside the inspectorate department.
