At Nairobi’s City Hall, there’s a quiet storm no one wants to talk about. A small group of insiders has turned the county’s finances into a tightly controlled system, one that runs on loyalty, secrecy, and power. From the outside, things may look routine. But within the walls of City Hall, a different picture unfolds.
At the center of it all is Asha Abdi. She’s the Chief Finance Officer and is often referred to by her colleagues as the sacred girl.
Her influence stretches across nearly every financial decision the county makes. She oversees everything from garbage collection to road construction and disaster response.
But it’s not just about oversight. Behind the scenes, her name is tied to contracts awarded to companies run by her close friends and family. She has full control over the money trail, and insiders say few decisions are made without her nod.
Working closely with her is Charles Kerich. He’s the County Executive Committee Member for Finance. On the surface, he appears quiet and composed. But according to staff at the county offices, he’s one of the most strategic players in the inner circle. He and Asha operate as a team. Together, they direct large sums of public money to handpicked contractors while keeping their tracks well-covered.
The third figure in this tight-knit group is Eston Kimathi. He currently holds the position of Acting CEO of the Ward Development Fund. His appointment is questionable, since someone else reportedly has the official appointment letter. But Kimathi remains in place. His importance comes from his control over the wards. Through this position, he helps Asha and Kerich push financial interests into the ground level, where projects are funded, inflated, or quietly approved with little scrutiny.
One of the companies repeatedly mentioned in internal reports is Emari Ventures. In just three months, the firm received close to seventy-two million shillings for projects that are hard to verify. In March 2024, the same company was paid nineteen million shillings for the so-called rehabilitation of a social hall in Lower Savannah Ward, located in Embakasi East. Since late 2024, payments to Emari Ventures have reportedly crossed two hundred and thirty million shillings. Other companies in similar circles include Zonari Investment, which received over twenty-one million under a single invoice, and Centreline Logistics, which was paid nearly eighty-nine million shillings for work that insiders say was never done.
The county’s books tend to flood with payments near the end of every financial year. That is when large chunks of the budget are cleared, often under the claim of settling pending bills. But many insiders say it’s a pattern. The end-of-year rush is used to drain public funds under the appearance of development. Most of these projects are either untraceable or already funded in earlier cycles.
Inside City Hall, challenging this group comes at a cost. Officers who speak up are either demoted, pushed out, or reassigned to irrelevant departments. Daniel Nguru, once a senior accountant, was transferred to social services after disagreements with the Budget Committee leadership. Martha Wambugu, another long-time finance officer who has her own history of scandal, was removed from her role and sent to the Risk Management department. That position had been held by a now-retired officer. Caroline Wang’ang’a, meanwhile, was promoted to head of treasury. According to those who work under her, she reports directly to Asha and rarely makes decisions independently.
MCAs are also part of this ecosystem. In Eastleigh North, MCA Ahmedgadar Mohamed Dabar is said to have worked with Asha and Eston to redirect funds from the Ward Development Fund into private deals. Those who play along are rewarded. Those who don’t, disappear quietly from their roles.
Other names have surfaced in internal investigations. These include Kevin Musamia, Vincent Muhanji, Stephen Mafura, and Denis Muia, who is known to be closely connected to Asha and involved in preparing work plans. The Speaker of the County Assembly, Ken Ng’ondi, has also been mentioned in the same breath.
One person close to Asha, who asked not to be named, described her as the real power behind the county’s financial system. She is said to control most of the accountants and ensures that the companies getting paid are either directly linked to her or run by people in her inner circle. Many of these businesses are making millions through deals that exist only on paper.
Inside City Hall, many know what’s going on. But very few are willing to say anything out loud. Those who do often don’t last long. The system protects itself. And the money keeps flowing.
