Former Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has launched a fresh attack on Governor Johnson Sakaja, accusing him of neglecting Nairobi residents and failing to address the city’s persistent garbage collection challenges.
Mosiria questioned the governor’s priorities, suggesting that Sakaja had become more interested in podcast appearances and public engagements than delivering essential services to Nairobi residents.
In a statement shared on social media, Mosiria highlighted the garbage situation at Roysambu Roundabout along Thika Road, claiming that heaps of uncollected waste had remained at the location for approximately two weeks.
According to the former county official, the situation reflected a broader problem affecting several parts of Nairobi, where residents continue to raise concerns about poor waste management and the deteriorating cleanliness of their neighbourhoods.
“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. It is a problem affecting almost every corner of Nairobi. Our city is slowly sinking under garbage because of poor leadership and a failure to deliver on the most basic responsibilities,” Mosiria stated.
He subsequently directed his criticism at Sakaja, questioning why the governor appeared to be spending more time engaging with media personalities and appearing on podcasts while residents continued struggling with basic services.
“He has turned himself into a podcaster, seemingly forgetting that his primary responsibility is to deliver services to the people of Nairobi,” Mosiria remarked.
Mosiria argued that Nairobi needed a governor who was actively involved in addressing problems affecting residents rather than concentrating on publicity and political engagements.
He also questioned the management of public resources, alleging that funds allocated to county operations and service delivery were not translating into visible improvements on the ground.
However, he did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate his latest allegations concerning the use of public funds.
The former county official maintained that Nairobi residents deserved clean streets, reliable garbage collection and accountable leadership.
“Our people deserve clean streets, proper garbage collection, accountability and responsible leadership,” he said.
Mosiria further suggested that the capital needed leaders who could prioritise practical solutions and demonstrate commitment through their actions.
“Nairobi needs a worker, not a politician. A governor who connects with the people, understands their problems, and delivers results. More action, more results, more serious leadership,” he added.
The latest criticism comes amid an increasingly public fallout between Mosiria and Sakaja, whose differences over county administration and service delivery have attracted considerable attention.
Mosiria previously served as Nairobi County Chief Officer, where he became a familiar face to residents through his involvement in public engagement, environmental enforcement and responses to complaints affecting different neighbourhoods.
His frequent appearances during inspections and interventions involving noise pollution and environmental concerns helped him build a public profile beyond City Hall.
However, his relationship with the governor reportedly deteriorated following disagreements over administrative decisions and his responsibilities within the county government.
Mosiria has previously alleged that he was sidelined after raising concerns about the management of public resources and procurement processes.
He also claimed that his responsibilities in the Health department were reduced following disagreements with the county leadership.
Among the claims he has previously made is that the department’s budget was reduced from Sh 1.2 billion to Sh 100 million after changes to his responsibilities in December 2023.
These allegations have not been independently established.
The disagreement eventually developed into an increasingly public political rivalry, particularly after Mosiria expressed interest in challenging Sakaja for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election.
His departure from the county government further intensified the differences, with the former official becoming increasingly vocal about the governor’s administration.
Sakaja, who was elected Nairobi governor in August 2022, has faced pressure from residents over several challenges, including garbage collection, flooding, drainage, road infrastructure and the delivery of healthcare services.
Waste management remains one of the biggest challenges facing the capital, whose rapidly growing population and commercial activities continue to put pressure on existing sanitation infrastructure.
The county government has previously outlined various interventions aimed at improving garbage collection and maintaining cleanliness, but complaints from residents about uncollected waste continue to feature prominently in public discussions.
Mosiria’s latest remarks have consequently reignited debate about the performance of the Sakaja administration and whether Nairobi residents are receiving the services they expect from their county government.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, the garbage crisis and broader questions about accountability, infrastructure and service delivery are likely to become important issues in the Nairobi gubernatorial contest.
At the time of publication, Sakaja had not publicly responded to Mosiria’s latest accusations.
The exchange adds another chapter to the growing political rivalry between the two former county colleagues, with Mosiria seemingly positioning himself as one of the voices seeking to challenge the governor’s leadership ahead of the next General Election.
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