Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has launched a scathing response to Governor Johnson Sakaja following his removal from the Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service docket, alleging that his troubles at City Hall began long before the latest administrative changes.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Mosiria claimed that he effectively lost his authority in December 2023 when, according to him, his responsibilities as an accounting officer in the Health department were transferred to junior officers.
The outgoing official argued that the latest reshuffle merely formalised a separation that had been unfolding for nearly three years, during which he says his responsibilities were progressively reduced.
His allegations have brought renewed attention to the strained relationship between the two leaders, with the dispute now intersecting with the emerging contest for Nairobi’s governorship ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Budget cuts at the centre of the dispute
Mosiria traced the breakdown in his working relationship with Sakaja to changes in the Health department, where he previously served as a chief officer.
He alleged that the budget under his docket was reduced from KSh1.2 billion to KSh100 million, leaving him with insufficient resources to carry out his responsibilities effectively.
He further claimed that the changes followed his refusal to participate in direct procurement arrangements that he alleged would benefit individuals associated with the governor and county contractors.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the county’s announcement of his removal did not provide an explanation for the decision.
Mosiria maintained that the withdrawal of his accounting responsibilities marked the beginning of a prolonged period of frustration within the county administration.
He also alleged that a WhatsApp conference call involving senior county officials featured a confrontation over his position, although the circumstances surrounding the exchange have not been independently established.
Successive transfers and claims of isolation
After his stint in Health, Mosiria was transferred to the Environment department in 2024 before being reassigned to Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service in November 2025.
He claimed that his influence was curtailed while serving in Environment, alleging that his director reported directly to Sakaja and that he was left with limited responsibilities.
Rather than remain inactive in the office, Mosiria said he continued participating in street enforcement operations, insisting that he wanted to remain useful to Nairobi residents.
He also complained of hostility from some colleagues, public criticism and attacks in official WhatsApp groups, which he said compounded his difficulties within the administration.
Mosiria further cited a court dispute over alleged contempt of court, claiming that the proceedings nearly resulted in a six-month jail term and formed part of what he viewed as efforts to push him out of office. The details and merits of those allegations require independent verification.
The chief officer said his grievances remained unresolved because he had been unable to secure regular discussions with the governor.
According to Mosiria, their last substantive meeting took place on December 28, 2023, at Sakaja’s private office in Riverside, when he questioned the withdrawal of his responsibilities.
He alleged that subsequent attempts to reach the governor through calls and messages yielded little response.
Political ambitions add a new dimension
Political ambitions add a new dimension
The dispute has taken on a political dimension following Mosiria’s declaration that he intends to contest the Nairobi governorship in the 2027 elections.
On October 11, he announced his ambitions during a visit by Jubilee leaders to Jesus Is Alive Ministries, led by Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, where he suggested that she could become his running mate.
He presented himself as a candidate capable of addressing Nairobi’s longstanding challenges, promising to draw lessons from previous administrations and complete development programmes that he believes were left unfinished.
Mosiria has cited his experience in health, environmental enforcement and citizen engagement as evidence of his preparedness to lead the capital.
His political declaration has placed him on a potential collision course with Sakaja, who is seeking to defend his record as governor. Other politicians, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and businesswoman Agnes Kagure, have also featured in discussions surrounding the 2027 race.
Although the county did not explicitly link Mosiria’s removal to his political ambitions, the timing of the reshuffle has intensified questions about the future of his relationship with the governor.
County reshuffle takes immediate effect
The changes were communicated in a notice dated October 21 and signed by Nairobi County Secretary and Head of Public Service Machel Waikenda.
Under the new arrangements, Zipporah Njeri Mwangi was assigned the acting role of Chief Officer for Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service while retaining her existing responsibilities in City Culture, Arts and Tourism.
The reshuffle also assigned Eng. Samwel Njogu the acting Mobility docket, while Godfrey Akumali retained Housing and Urban Renewal and took on additional acting responsibilities in Lands.
The changes took effect immediately, although the notice did not publicly explain the reasons behind Mosiria’s removal or indicate whether he would be assigned another role.
The county’s decision followed Mosiria’s public declaration of interest in the governor’s seat and his earlier criticism of aspects of the administration.
Mosiria insists service remains his priority
Despite his grievances, Mosiria maintained that his objective had always been to improve public services rather than engage in personal disputes.
He argued that his experience within the county government had exposed him to the administrative and operational challenges facing Nairobi, which he believes he can address through stronger leadership.
He also claimed to have received information about a possible court case intended to have him jailed, but did not publicly establish the basis of that allegation. Any such claim would require verification through the relevant legal proceedings and a response from the parties concerned.
The accusations against Sakaja remain Mosiria’s account of their deteriorating working relationship. The county’s reshuffle notice did not substantiate his claims about procurement, budget allocations or alleged attempts to undermine him.
Sakaja’s response to the specific allegations was not included in the available reports.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Mosiria’s departure from the county executive marks a significant turn in a dispute that began with disagreements over administrative responsibilities and has now become entangled with the politics of succession at City Hall.
Whether the fallout will translate into a sustained electoral challenge remains to be seen, but the latest developments have placed the relationship between the outgoing chief officer and his former boss firmly in the public spotlight.
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