A cloud of graft claims hangs over Sakaja’s Cabinet nominees ahead of Tuesday vetting
A major showdown is expected to play out during the Tuesday’s vetting process of Nairobi Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja’s cabinet nominees over their alleged involvement in professional malpractices.
Key among them is Stephen Gathuita Mwangi popularly known as S. G Mwangi, the current Chief Officer Lands and CEC nominee for Built Environment and Urban Planning, Nairobi County.
The latest case involving S.G Mwangi is the controversial ongoing development of Oaklands Apartments Limited along Peponi Road in Westlands owned by Jahangir Tejani.
Our investigations have established that Mwangi approved resumption of construction following a stoppage order vide Enforcement Notice No.000242 of 2021 without having regularised the approvals as required.
The project had and still has surpassed the approved three levels up to nine levels but the order was controversially lifted and has no sewer provision.
Further, the development is irregularly being constructed in a single dwelling zoned area without change of user to a multiple dwelling area.
According to an Enforcement Notice dated November 30, 2021, Oakland Apartments Limited were barred from further construction for violating Section 67 of Building Code which attracts punishment of an offence of carrying out development contrary to approvals sanctioned or an officer granting approvals contrary to the law.
“Stop further illegal construction, submit satisfactory architectural plans to Nairobi Metropolitan /Nairobi City County for approval, submit satisfactory site engineer reports to NMS/NCC within a period of seven days.” The enforcement notice dated November 30, 2021 reads in part.
Consequently, through a correspondence dated January 12, 2022, Mwangi cancelled and lifted the enforcement notice controversially giving the questionable development on plot number L.R No. 1870/Viii/119 Nairobi a clean bill of health.
Mwangi is one of the ten-member cabinet and the first one to face the Nairobi County Assembly House Committee on Appointments chaired by Speaker Ken Ng’ondi.
Nairobi clerk Edward Gichana in a notice dated today December 3, 2022 said the county executive nominees will be vetted by the appointment committee.
The vetting is set to start at 8am to 4.45pm at the County Assembly and every nominee will be grilled for a maximum of 45 minutes.
Others are, Charles Kerich (Finance and Economic Affairs), Michael Gumo (Innovation and Digital Economy), Brian Mulama (Talent, Skills Development and Care) Patrick Mbogo (Mobility and Works) Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya (Boroughs Administration and Personnel) Rosemary Kariuki (Business and Hustler Opportunities) Maureen Njeri (Green Nairobi) (Environment, Water, Food and Agriculture), Anastasia Mutethya Nyalita (Health, Wellness and Nutrition) and Suzanne Silantoi – Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service.
The vetting had been halted after the Association of Muslim Lawyers and the Nubian rights forum moved to court challenging Sakaja’s nominees.
They argued the list was discriminatory and no individual from the Islam group was shortlisted.
However, early this week the Employment and Labour Relations Court dismissed a case challenging the vetting of 10 Nairobi executive nominees.
Justice Anna Mwaure dismissed the petition saying it was filed prematurely.
Mwaure had issued orders stopping the process pending the hearing and determination.
The judge on Wednesday ruled that there was no evidence adduced that any members of those communities made application for the various positions and applicants were not considered on the basis of religion.
“The claim for discrimination is generalised and in absence of any evidence to prove this, the court would be reluctant to assume such is the position,” the judge ruled.
