This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
On September 23, 2019, eight children lost their lives in a tragic incident at Precious Talent School in Nairobi. In response, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has taken drastic measures to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
On September 25, 2019, Sonko suspended 16 county officials, including his close ally Charles Kerich, who is also known as the 'super CEC' due to his influential position as County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning.
According to Sonko, the suspension is aimed at facilitating impartial investigations into the tragedy and the ongoing comprehensive systems audit in the Urban Planning Department.
The suspended officials include:
- Charles Kerich, County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning
- Mohammed Dagane, County Executive Committee Member for Health
- Justus Kathenge, suspended County Chief Officer for Urban Planning
- Jusper Ndeke, Director Planning Compliance and Enforcement
- Dominic Mutegi, Development Management Director
- Ochanda Ondari Fredrick, Assistant Director Enforcement
- Ruth Waruguru, Director Urban Planning
- Thomas Dudi, Assistant Director Planning
- Simon Onyango, Development Officer
- Alex Mucheru, Development Control
- Mackline Saitera, Development Control
- Edna Guantai, In-charge of approval of public buildings and schools
- Joyce Kyengo, Dagoretti South Sub-County Administrator
- Lucy Wairimu Munyika, Dagoretti South Sub-County Commander
- Sylivia Mwikali Nthing, Dagoretti South Sub-County Planning Officer
- Okal Kennedy, Ngando Ward Administrator
Sonko has appointed Pauline Kahiga as the acting CEC for Finance and Economic Planning and Veska Kangogo as the acting CEC for Health.
