A reshuffle of Chief Officers at City Hall on Friday morning has sparked sharp criticism from a section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), who are questioning the motives behind some of the changes made by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
The governor reassigned five County Chief Officers in what his administration described as a move aimed at improving service delivery across key departments.
Under the changes, Dr. Machel Waikenda was moved from the Mobility Sector to head the influential Lands docket, replacing Cecilia Koigu, who has been reassigned to the ICT infrastructure department. Engineer Bob Ariemba was appointed to lead Agricultural Works, while Dr. Irene Muchoki was transferred from Medical Services to the Gender and Inclusivity ministry. Mariam Dubow, who previously served in Gender, now takes over in Medical Services.
However, the reshuffle has triggered backlash, particularly over Koigu’s transfer from the Lands department. South B MCA Waithera Chege has openly questioned the decision, arguing that it risks reversing progress made in streamlining Nairobi’s complex and often contentious land sector.
Chege noted that the Lands docket has long been plagued by disputes, double allocations, and protracted legal battles—issues that have repeatedly attracted scrutiny from both the County Assembly of Nairobi and the Senate of Kenya through petitions filed by residents and lobby groups.
She further raised concerns about the broader implications of the move on gender representation in governance, warning that reassigning Koigu could send the wrong message about women’s capacity to manage high-pressure portfolios.
“This move risks discrediting the significant strides made under her leadership and opens up unnecessary questions about whether women are being sidelined in critical sectors,” Chege said.
The MCA also cast doubt on Waikenda’s suitability for the Lands role, describing it as “too vast and demanding,” particularly given Nairobi’s unique land challenges. She questioned whether the reshuffle was driven purely by administrative considerations or other undisclosed factors.
Chege went on to urge oversight bodies to remain vigilant, warning of a possible scheme to facilitate irregular land dealings within the county.
“There are a lot of petitions on land, especially involving evictions to pave way for projects such as the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, affordable housing and markets. We must ensure no scheme to encroach on public land is allowed,” she said.
Her remarks come amid ongoing land-related disputes in the capital. The Single Mothers’ Association of Kenya has petitioned the Senate over a decades-long dispute involving a 0.2-hectare parcel of land they occupy without formal title.
Separately, the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands has launched investigations into alleged land fraud following a petition by Dave Walter Mburu, who claims he was fraudulently dispossessed of a 1.5-acre property along Lenana Road.
Sources within City Hall have also pointed to possible behind-the-scenes interests tied to upcoming redevelopment projects, including Nairobi’s Seven Old Estates, with Ngara already attracting controversy.
Koigu’s reassignment follows reports of internal disagreements between her and senior county officials over key land matters over the past year.
Despite the criticism, the governor’s office has defended the reshuffle, maintaining that the changes are part of broader efforts to enhance efficiency across departments. All reassignments took effect immediately.
The developments have now placed renewed focus on Nairobi’s Lands sector, a critical department central to urban development, governance, and public trust.
Chege has also faulted the governor for failing to address challenges in other departments, particularly urban planning, which has faced scrutiny over repeated building collapses without apparent administrative action. She further questioned what she termed as leniency towards County Executive Committee Members, who head key sectors within the county.
