Governor Sakaja’s Health CEC, Housing Chief Officer face censure over abuse of office

Tensions are rising inside Nairobi County Government as two senior officials in Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration face possible censure and dismissal over claims of incompetence, insubordination, and abuse of office.

County Assembly members have raised serious concerns about Health CEC Suzanne Silantoi and Lydia Mathia, the Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Renewal, citing repeated defiance, poor performance, and disregard for oversight procedures.

Both officials are now facing formal censure motions, sparking a fierce confrontation between the executive and the assembly.

Nairobi County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson Maurice Otieno said Silantoi has repeatedly ignored official summons to respond to pressing issues affecting residents.

He said she has declined to appear before the committee on at least five occasions, despite being required to address concerns about health services and Governor Sakaja’s school feeding programme, which falls under her docket.

“We have called the CEC to respond to the statements asked, but she does not respond, and she does not appear. She goes ahead to write invites all the way from the month of March. We will take action,” Otieno said.

He added that the committee now doubts Silantoi’s ability to serve effectively in her position and will soon recommend her replacement.

“The committee is concerned about the suitability of Silantoi being the CEC for Health, and we are in consideration of mentioning her as an incompetent officer in the Government of Nairobi. As the assembly, we are going to come up with a recommendation that we get someone suitable to serve in the position,” the MCA said.

Meanwhile, Chief Officer Lydia Mathia is also facing intense backlash from the assembly, with Majority Leader Peter Imwatok accusing her of misconduct, abuse of power, and mistreatment of junior staff.

“This lady is abusive. She should not be in office. We are expecting the County Secretary to give us a response. Failure to, we will deal with the CS. Speaker, prepare the lawyers for us. As we speak here, let him be speaking in court with his culprits,” Imwatok said, while reading the riot act to the chief officer.

He told the House that complaints had emerged from county employees who had allegedly been threatened or harassed by Mathia.

“If Lydia Mathia continues threatening officers, because officers also have a problem with her, the officers from the other side,” Imwatok states.

He also directed all committee chairs in the assembly to resist intimidation from executive officials and push forward with their oversight roles.

“I’m reprimanding all the chairs, any officer, in your committees, do not allow any officer to intimidate you. We are going to do this without malice. We are going to do it with a lot of honesty,” the Majority leader added.

Last month, the Assembly unanimously passed a censure motion against Mathia, accusing her of violating court orders, human rights, and abusing her office.

Other Topics To Read

• Headlines
• City Affairs
• Nairobi County Assembly
• Nairobi County Government
• City Hall
• Nairobi City County government
• Nairobi City County Assembly
• Lydia Mathia
• Suzanne Silantoi
• Governor Sakaja’s Health CEC
• Housing Chief Officer face censure over abuse of office

She was also accused of using hired goons to forcefully evict residents from county estates to pave the way for affordable housing projects under her department.

Residents of estates such as Jeevanjee, Pangani, and Kaloleni have raised alarm over how the housing programme is being implemented.

In several cases, residents say they were evicted without proper notice or compensation, with some returning to find their houses demolished and personal belongings discarded.

Civil society groups and community leaders have also condemned the programme, saying the process is being handled in secrecy and at the expense of low-income tenants, all in a rush to benefit private developers.

Despite the censure motion, Nairobi County Public Service Board Chairperson Thomas Kasoa had earlier told the assembly that the board had yet to act because it had not received the formal communication from the Assembly Clerk.

Imwatok, however, assured the members that his office would follow up with the Speaker and the Clerk to ensure the board acts on the matter.

Mathia oversees the city’s affordable housing programme, which seeks to demolish and redevelop old public estates into modern housing units.

The process has now become a source of public outrage over forced evictions and alleged violations of rights.