Kerich, Mosiria among Nairobi county officials to be quizzed by DCI over garbage dumping saga
The Nairobi City County Committee Executive Members for Economic Planning and Finance and Environment (Green Nairobi) Charles Kerich and Maureen Njeri, respectively, are among the top county officials summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over the dumping of garbage outside Stima Plaza last week.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee for Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, DCI boss Mohammed Amin revealed Kerich, Njeri, Chief Officers Geoffrey Mosiria, Tiras Njoroge, Eva Wariuki, Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director Nahashon Muguna are among the senior officials summoned by the investigative body to record statements over the same.
Amin added that Environment Director John Malawi, Acting Head of Debt Collection Unit James Lempaka, Acting Revenue Collection Director John Ntoiti, Director of Parking Steve Ogesa, and Starehe Rural Enforcement Officer Fredrick Omolo have also been summoned.
The DCI boss also stated that three people, including machine operator Alice Okari, driver Augustine Otieno Osore, and Moses Gitari, have been arrested, even as investigations are still ongoing.
He said they’ll be seeking to ensure they are charged with sabotage, robbery with violence, illegal dumping, and traffic obstruction contrary to Section 53 of the Traffic Act.
“The files were forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution with preferred charges being Obstruction contrary to Section 53 of the Traffic Act, illegal dumping of waste, among others. As at the time when the matter was being raised at the floor of the National Assembly, three employees of the County had already been arrested even as investigations proceed as they were released on Police Cash bail,” DCI boss Amin Mohammed stated.
This is even as the Inspector General of Police revealed that among the inquiries being conducted by the police is why the County Inspectorate team arrested two Kenya Power workers.
Kanja condemned the dumping of the waste at the Kenya Power offices, terming it as barbaric.
On his part, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja apologized for the act by his administration as he promised never to repeat it.
“The dumping was very primitive. On behalf of the staff, I apologize to the people of Kenya. It will never happen under my watch,” he said.
The City administrator added that two employees Acting Assistant Director, Debt Management James Lempaka and Acting Director, Revenue Administration John Ntoiti, whom he claims were responsible for the melee, have been interdicted.
However, The Informer Media Group contacted Lempaka who denied the allegations of overseeing the dumping of the garbage outside the complex.
He stated that he was shocked reading in the media that the governor had interdicted him.
“I’m currently not in Nairobi but I’m shocked because I did not authorize the dumping of the garbage outside Stima Plaza. I’m also reading in the media about the interdiction. I didn’t know that,” Lempaka told the Informer.
Further, sources at City Hall revealed to The Informer Media Group that the waste was dumped at Stima Plaza during the night and was authorized by Sakaja while it was overseen and implemented by the Chief of Staff David Njoroge and Chief Officer Environment Geoffrey Mosiria who supervise the cleaning of the City during the night.
