Nairobi South MCA and Deputy Minority Leader in the Nairobi County Assembly, Waithera Chege, has given Governor Johnson Sakaja 24 hours to revoke the reshuffle of senior county officials announced on Friday, April 24, 2026, claiming it raises questions about transparency in the Lands Department.
Ms. Chege opposed the transfer of Cecilia Koigu from the Lands Department to ICT, with her position being taken over by Dr Machel Waikenda, who had previously been in charge of the Infrastructure and ICT sector.
According to a memo from the Governor’s Office, NCC/ADM/GOV/063/2026, the changes were made under Section 45(5) of the County Governments Act, 2012, and took effect immediately.
However, Ms. Chege said the reshuffle was questionable and could weaken land management in the city, stressing that the department is critical in urban planning, issuance of building approvals, and law enforcement.“The Lands Department is not a ground for political experiments. Sudden changes without explanation can jeopardize the land management system,” she said.
She claimed the move could disrupt institutional records and weaken efforts to tackle illegal construction and poor housing challenges.
Ms. Waithera Chege warned that if Governor Johnson Sakaja does not reinstate Ms. Cecilia Koigu to her position within 24 hours, the County Assembly would take strong oversight action against the county government.
She also hinted that there may be hidden interests linked to the reshuffle, claims that have intensified debate over accountability in the lands sector, which has long been plagued by disputes.
However, allies of Governor Johnson Sakaja have defended the move, saying the reorganization of officials is within his constitutional powers.
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