Geoffrey Mosiria’s sacking: Questions over Sakaja, City Hall procurement and power

Nairobi, Kenya – Former Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has spoken out about his ousting from office by Governor Johnson Sakaja, claiming the removal was due to a lack of inclusion in procurement deals. In a stern message to Sakaja, Mosiria thanked the governor for making his dismissal official, but alleged that he lost his duties as an accounting officer on December 28, 2023, when those responsibilities were transferred to junior staff without proper procedure.

Mosiria further lamented a drastic cut in his health budget from Sh1.2 billion to Sh100 million, which left him ill-equipped to carry out his duties. He stated that this deterioration in his position began during their last meeting at the governor's private office in Riverside, Nairobi, where he claims Sakaja transferred his responsibilities to junior officers without following proper protocol.

In addition, Mosiria alleged that Governor Sakaja confronted him on a WhatsApp conference call with Chief of Staff Osman Khalifa, following his refusal to participate in questionable procurement deals. He said he was later moved to the Environment department, where he felt powerless due to his director reporting directly to the governor.

Rather than sit idle, Mosiria claimed he went out to lead enforcement operations and address the issues faced by Nairobi residents. He also alleged that he faced verbal attacks in official WhatsApp groups, public criticism, and faced a court case that nearly resulted in a six-month jail term on allegations of contempt of court. He described these experiences as part of a concerted effort to frustrate him and push him out of the county government.

Despite his claims of years of frustration, Mosiria remains committed to serving Nairobi and has expressed his ambition to seek the governor's seat in the 2027 gubernatorial race, placing him on a potential collision course with Governor Sakaja.