This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
On October 1, 2019, Nairobi governor Mike Sonko took swift action to consolidate his powers at City Hall after discovering that a section of his cabinet were on the payroll of a cartel that had been locked out but had recently resurfaced.
According to Weekly Citizen, apart from the older cartel, City Hall has experienced the arrival of Somali power brokers who are controlling almost every department, thanks to millions of shillings at their disposal.
These Somali cartels are linked to dubious happenings that Sonko curtailed at Pumwani Hospital and the recent tragedy at Precious Talent Academy, which was an opportune moment for them to fight back against their detractors.
As a result, Sonko suspended 16 county officials, including two of his confidants, to pave the way for investigations after eight pupils from the shanty school were tragically killed when classrooms collapsed on them.
The suspended officials include Charles Kerich (finance and economic), Mohammed Dagane (health), Justus Kathenge (planning), Jusper Ndeke (director, planning compliance and enforcement), Dominic Mutegi (development management director) and Ochanda Ondari (assistant director enforcement).
Others caught up in the suspension were Ruth Waruguru (director, urban planning), Thomas Dudi (assistant director, planning), Simon Onyango (development officer) and Alex Mucheru (development control).
Also affected were Mackline Saitera, Edna Guantai, Joyce Kyengo, Lucy Wairimu, Sylvia Mwikali and Okal Kennedy.
Observers have pointed out that the action by the governor was part of his expected onslaught against elements of sabotage being bankrolled by influential Somalis keen on cutting deals at City Hall.
