Fresh questions are being raised over the management of waste collection services in Gilgil Sub County, with a whistleblower alleging that a senior officer in the Nakuru County Department of Environment used his public office to replace an existing community waste management group with another entity allegedly linked to his own family.
The allegations, place the spotlight on James Kimotho Mungai, an officer in the Department of Environment, and have prompted calls for investigations by the Nakuru County Government, the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) and other oversight agencies.
According to the complainant, the dispute revolves around a waste management group known as Eco Safi Solutions, which had been operating in Gilgil and whose members largely consist of women and young people earning a living through waste collection and environmental conservation.
The whistleblower claims the group was pushed out after a new entity known as Naks All Waste Services was allegedly registered and licensed to take over the same work.
The complainant further alleges that the new entity is linked to the family of the county official, claiming that Evelyn Kinyanjui, who is alleged to be the wife of James Kimotho Mungai, was appointed as a director of the new outfit.
If those claims are true, they could raise serious questions about conflict of interest and whether public office was used for private benefit. Those allegations have not been independently verified.
The whistleblower also claims the new entity was allocated waste collection areas in Gilgil and Kinamba, leaving members of Eco Safi Solutions without work and without an income.
According to the complaint, many of those affected are women and young people who depended on the waste collection programme as their primary source of livelihood.
The matter has now drawn political attention because Governor Susan Kihika has repeatedly stated that empowering women and young people remains one of her administration's priorities through economic empowerment programmes and support for community groups.
The complainant argues that if the allegations are accurate, the actions complained of would directly undermine those efforts by removing an established community group and replacing it with an entity allegedly linked to a public officer's family.
The whistleblower further claims that members of Eco Safi Solutions received information about the alleged plans before they were implemented and moved to court in an attempt to challenge the changes.
If court proceedings are indeed ongoing, the case could provide an opportunity for the allegations and the county government's actions to be tested through the judicial process.
County governments are expected to manage licensing, procurement and public resource allocation in accordance with the Constitution, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, the Leadership and Integrity Act and the Public Officer Ethics Act. Public officers are expected to avoid situations where their official duties conflict with private interests.
The allegations now place responsibility on Governor Susan Kihika, the County Executive Committee Member for Water, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Natural Resources, and the county's senior administration to explain how the licensing process was conducted and whether any conflict of interest safeguards were applied.
The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission may also have a role if evidence emerges suggesting abuse of office or unlawful benefit by a public officer.
Below is the complaint received by this publication.
Please hide my identity.
A staff member in the Nakuru County Department of Environment, James Kimotho Mungai, has shortchanged a waste management group in Gilgil known as Eco Safi Solutions by registering a new waste management company called Naks All Waste Services and renewing the licence under the new outfit.
The members of Eco Safi Solutions, who are mainly women and youth, have now lost their source of livelihood.
It is further alleged that James Kimotho Mungai appointed his wife, Evelyn Kinyanjui, as a director of the new company.
We believe this amounts to a conflict of interest and ask Governor Susan Kihika, the County Executive Committee Member for Environment and the relevant investigative agencies to look into the matter.