City Hall environment officials summoned over controversial garbage firm
Maureen Njeri, the CEC in charge of Green Nairobi, and Geoffrey Mosiria, the Environment Chief Officer, are expected to appear before the committee to respond to serious concerns over the establishment of Green Nairobi Limited.
Concerns surrounding transparency and public involvement in Nairobi’s waste management efforts have intensified, prompting the County Assembly’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee to summon senior officials for the third time.
Maureen Njeri, the CEC in charge of Green Nairobi, and Geoffrey Mosiria, the Environment Chief Officer, are expected to appear before the committee to respond to serious concerns over the establishment of Green Nairobi Limited.
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In a letter from the Assembly Clerk dated April 16, 2025, the committee expressed frustration over what it described as repeated disregard by the two county officials.
“The Committee has been undermined by the two of you, as you have abdicated our oversight role and shown a lack of interest in matters that affect the public. The continued disregard of the invitation is undermining our oversight role,” the letter reads.
Among the issues to be addressed is the formation process of Green Nairobi Limited, a publicly-owned waste management company, which the assembly claims lacked any form of public participation.
The CEC and her Chief Officer are also expected to explain the current state of garbage collection in the city and the lapsing contracts of companies that have been operating under a 24-month agreement set to expire this week.
The committee insists their summons is backed by the Powers and Privileges Act 2017, citing Section 18 (2) (b), which mandates the two to appear and provide critical information on garbage collection management and implementation of environmental projects.
“After a meeting held by the committee early this month, it was resolved that the Chief Officer and the CEC are summoned to appear before the committee according to Section 18 (2) (b) of the Powers and Privileges Act 2017. Your attendance is required to shed light on information requested by MCAs on garbage collection management and status of implementation of projects for the first and second quarter of the current financial year, among other matters,” the letter stated.
The officials are now expected to honour the summons next Wednesday, having missed two previous appearances.
Their absence has continued to fuel debate over the transparency and legality surrounding the establishment of the Green Nairobi company.
Members of the Assembly have raised concerns that the company was set up without involving the Assembly or Nairobi residents.
Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve strongly criticised the process, saying the county had failed to consult the public despite their direct stake in the services to be provided.
“They don’t want to issue contract letters to the green army so that they can be absorbed by the illegitimate, scandalous Green Nairobi. The young women and men should continue to be part of government employees and not private companies, which can render them jobless at any time. To me, job security for the green arm is paramount,” Munuve said.
He added that the delay in confirming contracts for Green Army workers hints at a plan to move them into a private company, which he warned could increase the number of ghost workers in the county.
At the same time, legal challenges have emerged against top county executives over the creation of the Green Nairobi Company.
Two separate petitions have been filed in the Environment and High Courts, with one calling for the executive team to be declared unfit to serve due to their involvement in the company's registration.
In the petition seen by The Informer Media Group, Stephen Nyaga asked the court to bar five county officials from office, accusing them of violating the Constitution by acting as shareholders and directors in a public company.
The individuals named in the petition include Maureen Njeri, Finance CEC Charles Kerich, Finance Chief Officer Asha Abdi, Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, and Geoffrey Mosiria.
Nyaga argued that the officials acted unlawfully and misused public resources.
“The Petitioner noted overwhelming illegalities, irregularities, and circumvention of the law that were done by the Respondents in their capacities as Members of the Nairobi City County Government executive team. There was an intention and motive to illegally, unlawfully, and irregularly misuse and mismanage public funds and resources by the Respondents,” he stated.
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